holler
1 Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
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.
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
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"The People Could Fly," Vocabulary from the folk tale
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"The People Could Fly" by Virginia Hamilton
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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.
"But the kid inside of you wants to break out and just hoot and holler."
From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026
During Idioteque, guitarist Ed O'Brien catches him mid-transit, and they holler the lyrics directly to one another.
From BBC • Nov. 21, 2025
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
On they went through the holler, stumbling, tripping, falling, scrambling.
From "Ruby Holler" by Sharon Creech
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.
