boo

¹ American  

[boo] / bu /

interjection

1. (used to express contempt or disapprobation or to startle or frighten.)

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noun

boos plural

1. an exclamation of contempt or disapproval.

   a loud boo from the bleachers.

verb (used without object)

boos, present (3rd person singular) booed, past participle, past booing present participle

1. to cry boo in derision.

verb (used with object)

boos, present (3rd person singular) booed, past participle, past booing present participle

1. to show disapproval of by booing.

boo ² American  

[boo, boh] / bu, boʊ /

noun

1. Slang. marijuana.

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boo ³ American  

[boo] / bu /

noun

Slang.

1. one's boyfriend or girlfriend.

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boo British  

/ buː /

interjection

1. an exclamation uttered to startle or surprise someone, esp a child

2. a shout uttered to express disgust, dissatisfaction, or contempt, esp at a theatrical production, political meeting, etc

3. is extremely timid or diffident

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verb

1. to shout "boo" at (someone or something), esp as an expression of disgust, dissatisfaction, or disapproval

   to boo the actors

Usage

What else does boo mean? Boo is the sound we pretend ghosts make as well as a sound we make when we really don’t like something. Boo is also an affectionate term for one's significant other, similar to bae.

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• boos
  plural

Participles

• booing
  present
• booed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• boo
  simple
• boos
  simple
• have booed
  perfect
• has booed
  perfect
• am booing
  progressive
• are booing
  progressive
• is booing
  progressive
• have been booing
  perfect progressive
• has been booing
  perfect progressive

Past

• booed
  simple
• had booed
  perfect
• was booing
  progressive
• were booing
  progressive
• had been booing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will boo
  simple
• will have booed
  perfect
• will be booing
  progressive
• will have been booing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of boo¹

First recorded in 1630–40; expressive formation

Origin of boo²

First recorded in 1955–60; of uncertain origin

Origin of boo³

1985–90; of uncertain origin; possibly an alteration of French beau “boyfriend, admirer”

Example Sentences

It seemed the match was going to be easier for the Mexicans with South Africa short-handed, but fans began to boo the Mexican players after they stopped attacking and appeared nervous.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2026

Perhaps the organizers thought the crowd wouldn’t dare boo during a patriotic hymn.

From Salon • Jun. 11, 2026

They grads are also primed to boo any speakers who so much as mutter the words “artificial intelligence.”

From Slate • May 20, 2026

“They wouldn’t boo me,” Wrobleski said, “if they didn’t know who I was.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

Warning: Your teacher is about to gather you, boo.

From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas

Related Words

• heckle
• hiss
• holler
• hoot
• jeer