honk

[hongk, hawngk]

noun

1. the cry of a goose.

2. any similar sound, as of an automobile horn.

verb (used without object)

1. to emit a honk.

2. to cause an automobile horn to sound.

   He drove up in front of the house and honked.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause (an automobile horn) to sound.

   The driver honked his horn impatiently.

honk

/ hɒŋk /

noun

1. a representation of the sound made by a goose

2. any sound resembling this, esp a motor horn

3. slang,  a bad smell

verb

1. to make or cause (something) to make such a sound

2. (intr) a slang word for vomit

3. slang,  to have a bad smell

Word History and Origins

Origin of honk¹

An Americanism dating back to 1790–1800; imitative

Example Sentences

Boris pinched his own nose between two fingers to make a nasal, honking duck voice.

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“People started honking their horns and asking if we were going to be working together. It was a very chilling moment in a positive sense.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

We walked into the Loop, Chicago’s main business district—brimming with all the neon lights, the honking cars, the famous stores.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In 15 states and two provinces, we had no close calls, no one pulling behind and honking angrily, no one passing dangerously close and yelling “Get off the road,” not a single middle finger.

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Swerving through traffic, honking his horn at red lights—which was illegal in Moscow—the driver pulled up to Moscow’s Radio Center building.

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Related Words

• beep 
• blare