ho-hum

[ hoh-huhm, -huhm ]

/ ˈhoʊˈhʌm, -ˌhʌm /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for ho-hum on Thesaurus.com

interjection

(an exclamation expressing boredom, weariness, or contempt.)

adjective

dull, boring, or routine; so-so: a ho-hum performance.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of ho-hum

First recorded in 1920–25

Words nearby ho-hum

Hohenstaufen, Hohenzollern, Hohe Tauern, Hohhot, Hohokam, ho-hum, hoick, hoicks, hoiden, hoi polloi, hoise

How to use ho-hum in a sentence

There was Carol White, a ho-hum homemaker who finds herself besieged by multiple chemical sensitivity in Safe.
Julianne Moore Is Oscar Gold in ‘Still Alice’|Marlow Stern|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Lily Allen explained away the poor sales and ho-hum critical reception to Sheezus by…basically blaming other people.
The Biggest Bombs of 2014: ‘Sex Tape,’ Mariah Carey’s Vocals, ‘How I Met Your Mother’ and More|Kevin Fallon|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ho, 42, admitted that he had never stepped out of sight of the government minders but he insisted that was by choice.
North Korea’s Propaganda Art Exhibit in London|Nico Hines|November 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His New York accent slices through the incessant hum of voices.
The Holy Grail of Comic Books Hid in Plain Site at New York Comic Con|Sujay Kumar|October 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

All 130 employees share a similar vision and all seem very gung ho about their racy products.
James Franco Gets Kinky: Inside the BDSM Porn Documentary 'Kink'|Marlow Stern|August 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The hum of earnest or glad voices here contrasted strongly with silence and meditation there.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
The girl began to hum, as she powdered her nose with a white glove, lying in a powder box.
Rosemary in Search of a Father|C. N. Williamson
The door banged shut behind him and I heard him at the foot of the stairs roaring "Ho-ho-there-ho!"
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
She fell to her task again, only now she began to hum softly, thus shutting me off entirely.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
In a moment Skipper Worse was wide awake, and began to hum, as she moved her fingers along the lines.
Skipper Worse|Alexander Lange Kielland

British Dictionary definitions for ho-hum

ho-hum

/ (ˈhəʊˌhʌm) /

adjective

informal lacking interest or inspiration; dull; mediocrea ho-hum album

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

ho-hum

Origin of ho-hum

Words nearby ho-hum

Words related to ho-hum

How to use ho-hum in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ho-hum