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• hiss
  hiss

  verb (used without object)

  to make or emit a sharp sound like that of the letter s prolonged, as a snake does, or as steam does when forced under pressure through a small opening.
• Hiss
  Hiss

  noun

  Alger, 1904–96, U.S. public official, accused of espionage 1948 and imprisoned for perjury 1950–54.

hiss

¹ American  

[his] / hɪs /

verb (used without object)

1. to make or emit a sharp sound like that of the letter s prolonged, as a snake does, or as steam does when forced under pressure through a small opening.

2. to express disapproval or contempt by making this sound.

   The audience hissed when the actor forgot his lines.

   Synonyms:

   heckle, razz, boo

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verb (used with object)

1. to express disapproval of by hissing.

   The audience hissed the controversial play.

2. to silence or drive away by hissing (usually followed by away, down, etc.).

   They hissed down the author when he tried to speak.

   Synonyms:

   heckle, razz, boo

3. to utter with a hiss.

noun

1. a hissing sound, especially one made in disapproval.

Hiss ² American  

[his] / hɪs /

noun

1. Alger, 1904–96, U.S. public official, accused of espionage 1948 and imprisoned for perjury 1950–54.

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hiss ¹ British  

/ hɪs /

noun

1. a voiceless fricative sound like that of a prolonged s

2. such a sound uttered as an exclamation of derision, contempt, etc, esp by an audience or crowd

3. electronics receiver noise with a continuous spectrum, caused by thermal agitation, shot noise, etc

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interjection

1. an exclamation of derision or disapproval

verb

1. (intr) to produce or utter a hiss

2. (tr) to express with a hiss, usually to indicate derision or anger

3. (tr) to show derision or anger towards (a speaker, performer, etc) by hissing

Hiss ² British  

/ hɪs /

noun

1. Alger. 1904–96, US government official: imprisoned (1950–54) for perjury in connection with alleged espionage activities

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Other Word Forms

• hisser noun
• hissingly adverb
• outhiss verb (used with object)
• unhissed adjective

Etymology

Origin of hiss

1350–1400; Middle English hissen; probably imitative; compare Old English hyscan to jeer at, rail (derivative of husc jeering; cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German hosc )

Explanation

To hiss is to make a long s sound. Snakes are known to hiss, and sometimes unhappy audience members will hiss instead of booing. The sound you make when you hiss — also called a hiss — sounds just like the word itself. In fact, you can't say the word without hissing. This type of sound is also known as sibilance, a consonant that's pronounced when a stream of air passes through teeth that are touching or close together. A barista's steaming wand hisses as she foams milk, and some types of snakes hiss in warning.

Example Sentences

Dodgers fans generally hiss at the mention of Frank McCourt — the former owner took the team into bankruptcy, after all — but today is about tipping our cap to him.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

Play Under The Rain or Breathe Again and you'll hear a telltale hiss running throughout the tracks.

From BBC • Jan. 16, 2026

A symphonic mix of an espresso machine’s hiss, a ravenous juicer’s whir and ebullient Spanish welcomed me at my new favorite, Las Olas Cafe.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 6, 2025

I remembered how much I loved the small, sensory details: the hiss of olive oil in a pan, the way garlic perfumes the air, the tactile pleasure of kneading dough.

From Salon • Nov. 28, 2024

I let out a low hiss as I descended into the thigh-deep water.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Related Words

• boo
• hoot
• jeer
• seethe
• shout down
• spit
• wheeze
• whirr
• whisper
• whistle