hoot

¹ American  

[hoot] / hut /

verb (used without object)

1. to cry out or shout, especially in disapproval or derision.

   Synonyms:

   hiss, boo, jeer

2. to utter the cry characteristic of an owl.

3. to utter a similar sound.

4. Chiefly British. to blow a horn or whistle; toot.

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verb (used with object)

1. to assail with shouts of disapproval or derision.

   The fans hooted the umpire.

   Synonyms:

   razz, boo

2. to drive out, off, or away by hooting.

3. to express in hoots.

   The crowd hooted its disagreement with the speaker.

noun

1. the cry of an owl.

2. any similar sound, as an inarticulate shout.

3. a cry or shout, especially of disapproval or derision.

4. British. a horn, siren, or whistle, especially a factory whistle.

5. Informal. the least bit of concern, interest, or thought; trifle.

   His religion doesn't matter a hoot to me.

6. Slang. an extremely funny person, situation, or event.

   Your cousin is such a hoot!

idioms

1. not give / care a hoot, to not care at all: null not givecare two hoots.

   I don't give a hoot.

hoot ² American  

[hoot] / hut /

Or hoots

interjection

Scot. and North England.

1. (used as an expression of impatience, dissatisfaction, objection, or dislike.)

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hoot ¹ British  

/ huːt /

noun

1. the mournful wavering cry of some owls

2. a similar sound, such as that of a train whistle

3. a jeer of derision

4. informal an amusing person or thing

   the weekend was a hoot

5. not to care at all

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verb

1. (often foll by at) to jeer or yell (something) contemptuously (at someone)

2. (tr) to drive (political speakers, actors on stage, etc) off or away by hooting

3. (intr) to make a hoot

4. (intr) to blow a horn

hoot ² British  

/ huːts, huːt /

interjection

1. an exclamation of impatience or dissatisfaction: a supposed Scotticism

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hoot ³ British  

/ huːt /

noun

1. a slang word for money

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hoot More Idioms  

1. see not give a damn (hoot).

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Other Word Forms

• hootingly
  adverb
• unhooted
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of hoot¹

First recorded in 1200–1250; Middle English verb houten, whoten; imitative of the sound

Origin of hoot²

First recorded in 1600–10; hoot ¹ ( def. ) (in the sense “shout of disapproval or derision”)

Explanation

A hoot is the musical call an owl makes. The hoot of an owl sounds very much like the word hoot. An owl's hoot is the inspiration for a similar sound that people make to show disapproval or scorn: "The sound of the crowd's hoots filled the stadium when the soccer player kicked the ball into his own team's goal." To make this sound, whether you're a person or an owl, is to hoot, and if you don't give a hoot, it means you really don't care at all.

Example Sentences

"But the kid inside of you wants to break out and just hoot and holler."

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

His singing of Oscar Straus and Leo Robin’s “Oh, That Mitzi” is a hoot.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 18, 2026

Elton’s motivations don’t make sense, but at least Cera barges into the movie with so much energy that his sequence is a hoot.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 13, 2025

Seeing each stride into frame is a hoot.

From Salon • Nov. 6, 2025

Every hoot of an owl sent him into a high- pitched fit, and whenever the cooking fire hissed, he threw a bit of aca, maize beer, into the flames to appease their anger.

From "The Ugly One" by Leanne Statland Ellis

Related Words

• boo
• heckle
• hiss
• howl
• jeer
• scream
• whistle