holler
1 Americanverb (used without object)
-
hollers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
hollered,
past participle, past
-
hollering
present participle
verb (used with object)
-
hollers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
hollered,
past participle, past
-
hollering
present participle
noun
noun
verb
noun
Usage
What else does holler mean? To holler is "to shout," extended to "say hello" or "hit on" in Black English. In Appalachian English, a holler refers to a "hollow," or mountain valley.
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
hollersimple
-
hollerssimple
-
have holleredperfect
-
has holleredperfect
-
am holleringprogressive
-
are holleringprogressive
-
is holleringprogressive
-
have been holleringperfect progressive
-
has been holleringperfect progressive
Past
-
holleredsimple
-
had holleredperfect
-
was holleringprogressive
-
were holleringprogressive
-
had been holleringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of holler1
1690–1700, variant of holla ( see hallo)
Origin of holler2
An Americanism dating back to 1835–45
Explanation
When you holler, you yell a little too loudly and abruptly. A kid stuck in a tree might holler for help until someone shows up to help him climb down. Holler is an informal verb, useful for those times you call out or shout. Your teacher might holler at the class if she gets angry enough, and you might holler at your sister to get out of your room at least once a day. A holler can also be a dip or depression in the land, a hollow. The word dates from the 17th century, a colloquial form of hollo, a variation on hello.
Vocabulary lists containing holler
Instead of "Said": Words That Sound Like What They Mean
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The People Could Fly," Vocabulary from the folk tale
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The People Could Fly" by Virginia Hamilton
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Former talk-show host Winfrey wrote that one of her fondest memories with Parton was "having a hoot and a holler while wearing Bob Mackie gowns on her show Dolly".
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
"But the kid inside of you wants to break out and just hoot and holler."
From Barron's ● Apr. 4, 2026
The glorious holler of the V12—equivalent to six Italian superbikes—would make a statue of Enzo Ferrari cry.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2025
High school, college, med school, it’s all the same: You dress up, get there early, sweat in the sunshine, and holler like hell when the grad’s name gets called.
From Slate ● May 27, 2025
They holler stuff like, “This is the life, watching a boy do a man’s job! Stick to it or the caulking will stick to you!” and so on, but I don’t mind.
From "The Young Man and the Sea" by Rodman Philbrick
She was a white working-class girl, a Southerner from the hollers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
Cosby defined it to me as “books that took noir existentialism out the cities and the back and brought it down into the hills and the hollers, the low country.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 16, 2026
But us football fans must recognize that not everyone hoots and hollers for the conversion on a long third down or a legendary pick six.
From Salon ● Sep. 15, 2025
There were heartening hollers, dramatic dashes when chances were created and applause for the application of her players throughout.
From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2025
I heard a few shouts and hollers from the street, even the shrill protesting from a horse, but couldn’t see what was happening.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
Eight men sliding 16 stones down an ice sheet to the soundtrack of clunking granite, furious sweeping and hollered commands of "hard" and "curl".
From BBC ● Feb. 21, 2026
He hollered, “Where’s Creighton?” and, moments later, shook hands with lead prosecutor Creighton Waters as he entered.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 12, 2026
At one point, future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw took his turn at the microphone and hollered, “Dodger for life!”
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2025
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had hollered a similar message in a warmup speech to the senior officers.
From Slate ● Oct. 6, 2025
“Yes,” I said, and to my surprise the rest of the girls on the bed sat up and hollered with happiness.
From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall
We’re hooting and hollering because Texas is now represented in the Senate by a guy who sounds like Mr. Burns when he gets too many medical treatments and keeps offering everyone his love.
From Slate ● Nov. 4, 2026
Last year, “The Minecraft Movie” had children hollering in theaters but few stakes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 14, 2026
Fans dressed in approximations of her floaty ballgowns and 1920s flapper dresses, hollering lyrics like mantras.
From BBC ● May 2, 2026
“We’re hopping and hollering in our living rooms,” Michael said, “but it’s nothing like being in person.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 27, 2026
Marsha could never quite get used to hearing women screaming and hollering inexplicably throughout the night in a crowded dorm.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
