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:
But it’s too late when he at least provides something to boo at.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
“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
Perhaps the organizers thought the crowd wouldn’t dare boo during a patriotic hymn.
From Salon ● Jun. 11, 2026
An audience can cheer and they can also all boo, and I have not forgotten that.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2026
I slap the tea tray down without saying boo or squat and left them women to fend for they ownselfs.
From "Girls Like Us" by Gail Giles
Days before, he delivered a characteristically crude address that singled out CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins in front of a hostile crowd, eliciting angry boos and vicious chants.
From Salon ● Oct. 6, 2026
However, footage of the victory ceremony afterwards showed ceremonial officials struggling to raise South Korea's flag on the flagpole, sparking boos from Korean fans.
From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026
The boos started late in the first half, with the Packers trailing 17-7, and got louder and more frequent as the game — and the team’s woes — continued.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
Speaking Spanish during media interviews even helped turn some Mexican boos into cheers.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
I was covering Wimbledon, the world’s premier tennis competition and one of the few events I go to where the crowd never boos and no one is drunk in the parking lot.
From "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom
His supporters in the audience booed at the rest of the council.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
When incumbent Sen. Roger Marshall stepped to the microphone at last weekend’s Kansas State Fair debate, hundreds of those gathered booed, hissed and jeered.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026
It followed Littler also being booed during his win against home favourite Danny Noppert on Friday.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
This time, they loudly booed the French prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, who was meeting privately with the mayor of Le Porge.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026
“Sorry!” said Flint as the crowd below booed.
From "Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban" by J.K. Rowling
In June, he told his colleagues — and a booing audience — that he had a long history of supporting park spaces.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
By now long since deaf, he asked if they were booing him.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
“Ted, you suck! Ted, you suck!” several hundred students chanted for nearly 10 minutes on Saturday morning, standing behind the Republican and booing as Davis attempted to conduct a one-on-one interview.
From Salon ● Sep. 15, 2026
"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
People noticed and gave them dirty looks, but the only booing during the game was when the refs made calls in favor of Armstead Academy’s team.
From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan
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.
