boo
1 Americaninterjection
noun
-
boos
plural
verb (used without object)
-
boos,
present (3rd person singular)
-
booed,
past participle, past
-
booing
present participle
verb (used with object)
-
boos,
present (3rd person singular)
-
booed,
past participle, past
-
booing
present participle
noun
noun
interjection
-
an exclamation uttered to startle or surprise someone, esp a child
-
a shout uttered to express disgust, dissatisfaction, or contempt, esp at a theatrical production, political meeting, etc
-
is extremely timid or diffident
verb
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
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
boosimple
-
boossimple
-
have booedperfect
-
has booedperfect
-
am booingprogressive
-
are booingprogressive
-
is booingprogressive
-
have been booingperfect progressive
-
has been booingperfect progressive
Past
-
booedsimple
-
had booedperfect
-
was booingprogressive
-
were booingprogressive
-
had been booingperfect progressive
Future
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
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:
“An enchanted hideaway in a coveted location with inviting outdoor retreats and peek a boo views to Downtown Los Angeles create an idyllic setting,” the listing added.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026
Then Trout had an exceptionally rare experience, a visiting player cheered at the home of the boo.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 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
Why she want two Speddies, ones she don’t know for boo or squat, sitting at her breakfast table?
From "Girls Like Us" by Gail Giles
Each touch of the ball was greeted by a mixture of boos and cheers, while some fans also celebrated when Fernandez was fouled.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
Even though his mention of Israeli Prime Minister “Bibi” Netanyahu elicited boos, Witkoff maintained control of the crowd.
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026
Mayor Karen Bass struggled to open the meeting over the loud boos and yelling of community members, actions that were repeated as other elected officials took the microphone.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
That means there is little or no boos t from forced buying, unlike when a company is added to the S&P 500.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
As the audience roars with a cacophony of confusion, cheers, boos, and incredulous shouts, the power-up finally wears off on me.
From "Warcross" by Marie Lu
All eyes were on Wirtz and Isak - the Sweden striker, signed from Newcastle in a drawn-out saga last September, was booed relentlessly whenever he touched the ball.
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026
Cubs fans booed him as he approached the bullpen gate in right field to warm up before the game.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
Residents have also criticized elected officials including Bass for their response to the blaze, and the mayor was booed during a community meeting Thursday night.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026
U.S. supporters gave him the loudest reception of any player when he was introduced while the Belgian fans booed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
"Yes. And it tripped a Yankee base runner. Changed the momentum of the entire game. The Red Sox ended up winning. Didu's face showed up on the big screen and the entire stadium booed."
From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins
"The booing and disappointment from Liverpool supporters is something I'm absolutely able to shoulder. I can understand it, in my own way," he said.
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026
While the matches drew protests against the Iranian regime, including some booing both times the national anthem was played before kickoffs, the crowds heavily favored and cheered loudly for the Iranian team.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026
When confronted with an undeniable fact — in this case, thousands of people booing a sitting president — the healthy human mind adjusts its understanding of reality.
From Salon ● Jun. 11, 2026
US rapper Travis Scott angered fans in Istanbul after a performance that barely lasted 20 minutes, with the audience booing as he left the stage early Monday, footage on social media showed.
From Barron's ● Jun. 1, 2026
He was standing in the dust of the fight, and as the tribe saw his intention the shrill cheer changed to a steady booing.
From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding
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.
