honk
Americannoun
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the cry of a goose.
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any similar sound, as of an automobile horn.
verb (used without object)
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to emit a honk.
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to cause an automobile horn to sound.
He drove up in front of the house and honked.
verb (used with object)
noun
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a representation of the sound made by a goose
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any sound resembling this, esp a motor horn
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slang a bad smell
verb
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to make or cause (something) to make such a sound
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(intr) a slang word for vomit
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slang to have a bad smell
Etymology
Origin of honk
An Americanism dating back to 1790–1800; imitative
Explanation
Honk! Out of the way! A honk is a noise made by a goose or a car horn. A goose's honk can be a greeting or warning, which is also true of a car horn's honk. To make the sound of a honk is to honk, whether you're a goose or a taxi driver waiting for the light to turn green. The "cry of a goose" meaning is the oldest, and the word honk, especially if you say it loudly, sounds just like what it means. HONK! The most common honk these days comes from cars stuck in traffic or saying hello. Honk if you like definitions!
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.
“The kids used to roll by and they’d do the arm thing to get you to honk the horn,” Shearer said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026
The cheerful honk is a familiar greeting among parents, community members and these local child-care workers on their pick-up routes.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 22, 2025
Every time a semitruck passed by heading to or from the port, the driver would honk its horn in a quick gesture of acknowledgment and, one imagines, solidarity with the men and women inside.
From Slate • Sep. 19, 2025
They can maneuver evasively, honk or make other sounds, including telling people outside the vehicle that 911 is being called.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 4, 2025
“I’ll go by Chris’s first, and on the way I’ll honk, see, and if Joe hears me, he’ll answer. Maybe he got off the road or something.”
From "Miracles on Maple Hill" by Virginia Sorensen
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.
