ballyhoo
Americannoun
verb (used with or without object)
noun
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a noisy, confused, or nonsensical situation or uproar
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sensational or blatant advertising or publicity
verb
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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ballyhoosimple
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ballyhoossimple
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have ballyhooedperfect
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has ballyhooedperfect
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am ballyhooingprogressive
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are ballyhooingprogressive
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is ballyhooingprogressive
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have been ballyhooingperfect progressive
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has been ballyhooingperfect progressive
Past
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ballyhooedsimple
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had ballyhooedperfect
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was ballyhooingprogressive
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were ballyhooingprogressive
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had been ballyhooingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of ballyhoo
An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; of uncertain origin
Explanation
The word ballyhoo is both a noun and a verb that refers to making a big, noisy fuss about something. Promoters might ballyhoo a new store opening by plastering the airwaves with ads and throwing a big parade on opening day. Ballyhoo is all about being loud and flashy, creating an attention-grabbing spectacle. The term originated in early 20th-century slang to describe the loud carnival barkers yelling out exaggerated pronouncements when trying to drum up a crowd for a sideshow or attraction. Over time, it came to mean any hype or commotion to promote something. Using the word as a noun, you could say, "Despite all the ballyhoo, the movie was a box office flop." As a verb, you might say, "The bookstore ballyhooed the arrival of the last book in the popular series."
Vocabulary lists containing ballyhoo
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.
“The noble art of ballyhoo, which had flourished so successfully in the nineteen-twenties, had lost something of its vigor,” he mourns.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026
Just think of all of the ballyhoo and bragging that Los Angeles’ 19th century promotional machine contrived: Come to Southern California!
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 30, 2022
After so much preseason ballyhoo around the teaming of James, Davis and Westbrook, the trio managed to play in only 21 games together — and went 11-10.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 11, 2022
“That was one of the places that my father used to stand outside in his outfit to ballyhoo all these movies,” she recalled.
From New York Times • Mar. 4, 2022
She was a hemp-rigged old ballyhoo out o' Quebec, an' gear was chafin' through all the time.
From The Grain Ship by Robertson, Morgan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
