jeer
1 Americanverb (used without object)
-
jeers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
jeered,
past participle, past
-
jeering
present participle
verb (used with object)
-
jeers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
jeered,
past participle, past
-
jeering
present participle
noun
noun
verb
noun
Synonym Usage
See scoff 1.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
jeersimple
-
jeerssimple
-
have jeeredperfect
-
has jeeredperfect
-
am jeeringprogressive
-
are jeeringprogressive
-
is jeeringprogressive
-
have been jeeringperfect progressive
-
has been jeeringperfect progressive
Past
-
jeeredsimple
-
had jeeredperfect
-
was jeeringprogressive
-
were jeeringprogressive
-
had been jeeringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of jeer1
1555–65; origin uncertain; compare Old English cēir clamor, akin to cēgan to call out
Origin of jeer2
First recorded in 1485–95; origin uncertain
Explanation
As a noun, jeer is the act of scoffing, taunting, or mocking. Think of it as an anti-cheer. If you offer cheers for the visiting team and jeers for the home team, you might not be too popular in the stands. As a verb, jeer means to laugh at in a mean way. Even if you did forget the words to the national anthem, it wasn't polite for the crowd to jeer. But don't feel too bad: the last singer remembered all the words and they jeered her anyway! Tough crowd.
Vocabulary lists containing jeer
List 3
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Ghost
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Now, his detractors use the same phrase at his rallies to jeer him.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 11, 2026
"This was a jeer from two so-called men to a child," she said.
From BBC ● Mar. 1, 2026
Many say they plan to jeer him or otherwise protest his presence.
From New York Times ● May 25, 2024
D’Angelo Russell walked to the bench in the first quarter, goading the New Orleans crowd to jeer.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 16, 2024
Jasper had a way of smiling faintly as he spoke which made Ged look for a jeer hidden in his polite words.
From "A Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. Le Guin
The boss of German carmaker Volkswagen warned workers on Tuesday to brace for more job losses, earning boos and jeers from the crowd, as the crisis-hit company faces a drastic round of cost-cutting.
From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026
As McDonnell spoke, the commission room erupted in jeers as several people accused the chief of misrepresenting what happened.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
And while Grande later insisted the break was pre-planned and not “reactive or impulsive,” there’s no doubt the announcement was timed to dull the cacophony of both the jeers and cheers.
From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2026
No cheers this week so I can adequately spotlight what might be my jeers of the year: a taxi scam in Paris.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
I looked around the room one more time before I left, and Du Hai's jeers seemed almost as far behind me as the day I had been elected da-dui-zhang.
From "Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution" by Ji-li Jiang
Alvarez started on the bench on Sunday but was jeered while warming up and there were even louder boos when he came on in the 66th minute.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
The Fever’s coach doesn’t back Cunningham vociferously enough and gets jeered by a home crowd.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Venezuelans jeered acting president Delcy Rodríguez and mocked National Guard troops, while some U.S. lawmakers criticized the government for allegedly limiting aid access.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
A heavily jeered $250m goldmine - are hydration break ads here to stay?
From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026
“Your mother confessed,” sneered Riddle-Harry, while Riddle-Hermione jeered, “that she would have preferred me as a son, would be glad to exchange...”
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
“This is a family town,” the arresting officer tells jeering onlookers as he and the two others handcuff Gamble.
From Slate ● May 4, 2026
“I know many of the members across the House will find these facts to be incredible,” Starmer said to jeering lawmakers on Monday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 20, 2026
Whether we consume their content as genuine fans or jeering critics, we’re still offering up our engagement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 7, 2026
Undeterred, she began dancing before enduring more whistles and jeering during her on-court interview.
From Barron's ● Jan. 23, 2026
More jeering, whistling, catcalls, and scattered boos accompanied this unsportsmanlike conduct.
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
