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Synonyms

howdy

1 American  
[hou-dee] / ˈhaʊ di /

noun

plural

howdies

  1. hello; how do you do (used as an expression of greeting).

howdy 2 American  
[hou-dee] / ˈhaʊ di /

noun

Scot. and North England Slang.

plural

howdies

  1. howdie.

howdy British  
/ ˈhaʊdɪ /

  1. an informal word for hello

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of howdy

First recorded in 1820–30; from the phrase how do ye?

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.

“Boy howdy is the media not ready for that.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 14, 2024

“Finally, at last, boy howdy hey, welcome to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures,” Tom Hanks said at a media preview last week.

From Washington Times • Sep. 29, 2021

And, boy howdy, was the choice to sit this one out to catch up with "The Crown" a smart one.

From Salon • Feb. 5, 2020

Yes, I know Bert Sandeen – he’s a good old Joe – and when you see him again, say howdy from me.

From Washington Post • Dec. 6, 2017

Miss Love was in the back, squeezed in between two mountains of grips, boxes, and hatboxes and boy howdy dressed fit to kill in a new fall outfit.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns

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.