booting

American

[boo-ting] / ˈbu tɪŋ /

noun

the practice of dealing with scofflaws by attaching a boot to the wheel of a car, immobilizing it until its owner reports to the police or pays delinquent fines.

Etymology

Origin of booting

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.

Meta has started booting Australian children under 16 years off its Instagram, Facebook and Threads platforms, a week before an official teen social media ban begins.

From BBC • Dec. 4, 2025

Meanwhile, a couple blocks from its downtown campus, another shocker played out: Oakland booting Kentucky from the 68-team tournament.

From New York Times • Mar. 22, 2024

The station is planning a “ceremonial last day” of playing Swift’s hit music before booting her for the weekend and through Monday night.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 17, 2023

Greg Zuerlein kicked four field goals, a week after booting five.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 15, 2023

“Finally,” I gasped as the router finished booting and my phone connected to the Wi-Fi.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023