boo

¹

[boo]

interjection

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

noun

plural

boos 

1. an exclamation of contempt or disapproval.

   a loud boo from the bleachers.

verb (used without object)

booed, booing 

1. to cry boo in derision.

verb (used with object)

booed, booing 

1. to show disapproval of by booing.

boo

²

[boo, boh]

noun

1. Slang.,  marijuana.

boo

³

[boo]

noun

Slang.

1. one's boyfriend or girlfriend.

boo

/ 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

verb

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

   to boo the actors

Word History and Origins

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

And Rogers Centre was booing Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, who spurned the Blue Jays after they were a finalist in his free agency process to sign in Los Angeles instead.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The fans who were left booed their team off after a truly miserable 2-0 defeat that could easily have been 5-0.

Read more on BBC

I stood at the end of my mark, bowled four overs in my mind and I imagined the boos.

Read more on BBC

Norway’s Sven Seljom, a burly 57, described how he uses black Norwegian oats and prefers to use a spatula, to a chorus of boos.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

While never behind at Hampden on Sunday, they were ringing almost as loud as the booing coming from the 49,000 inside Scotland's national stadium.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• heckle 
• hiss 
• holler 
• hoot 
• jeer 

When To Use

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.