choo-choo
Americannoun
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choo-choos
plural
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a train.
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the sound of a steam locomotive.
verb (used without object)
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to make a sound like that made by a steam locomotive.
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to travel by train.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of choo-choo
First recorded in 1900–05; imitative
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:
Then, she is on her way, leading a "choo-choo train" formed by a line of delighted children, sprinkling humour, happiness and even a little hope, but not the real aid they so desperately need.
From BBC ● Feb. 1, 2026
“He’s like a choo-choo train. It’s just, ‘Choo choo!'”
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 30, 2021
And it had accelerating choo-choo rhythms that acquired almost dictatorial speed once the immortal Carol Channing, as Dolly, joined the song, encouraging everyone in boring old Yonkers to dress up and get on the train.
From New York Times ● Dec. 27, 2019
Because while Chattanooga has advanced beyond its choo-choo days, it still embraces old-fashioned Southern gentility.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 20, 2017
Rev. Owens’s sermons started like a tiny choo-choo train and ended up like a roaring locomotive.
From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride
Inside, passengers will hear choo-choos over the loudspeakers.
From Time Magazine Archive
When choo-choos and horses and picture books fail, He'll remain, quite content, in his chair, While I tell o'er and o'er the incredible tale Of The Grocery Man and the Bear.
From Bib Ballads by Fontaine Fox
You may see me up there some time; and when you do, don't shy off like a colt at the choo-choos.
From The Wit and Humor of America, Volume VII. (of X.) by Marshall Pinckney Wilder
These words had the desired effect, and the howl was arrested as two big black eyes stared with awakening interest while Nathalie caught hold of the stretcher and choo-chooed it back and forth.
From Blue Robin, the Girl Pioneer by Rena I. Halsey
He put all his doctor truck into his gasoline wagon last night and choo-chooed outen town.
From Alec Lloyd, Cowpuncher by Eleanor Gates
“We are here focused on the future,” he said, “we are here focused on the present and really trying to get this train going, picking up steam and choo-chooing along.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2025
Still, he expects to play, and he’ll be choo-chooing like a wild man on July 22, when the Valor plays its first home game in more than a month.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 9, 2017
There was one part where Grandpop even made it sound like a train, choo-chooing.
From "As Brave As You" by Jason Reynolds
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.
