jeer
1 Americanverb (used without object)
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jeers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
jeered,
past participle, past
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jeering
present participle
verb (used with object)
-
jeers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
jeered,
past participle, past
-
jeering
present participle
noun
noun
verb
noun
Synonym Usage
See scoff 1.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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jeersimple
-
jeerssimple
-
have jeeredperfect
-
has jeeredperfect
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am jeeringprogressive
-
are jeeringprogressive
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is jeeringprogressive
-
have been jeeringperfect progressive
-
has been jeeringperfect progressive
Past
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jeeredsimple
-
had jeeredperfect
-
was jeeringprogressive
-
were jeeringprogressive
-
had been jeeringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of jeer1
1555–65; origin uncertain; compare Old English cēir clamor, akin to cēgan to call out
Origin of jeer2
First recorded in 1485–95; origin uncertain
Explanation
As a noun, jeer is the act of scoffing, taunting, or mocking. Think of it as an anti-cheer. If you offer cheers for the visiting team and jeers for the home team, you might not be too popular in the stands. As a verb, jeer means to laugh at in a mean way. Even if you did forget the words to the national anthem, it wasn't polite for the crowd to jeer. But don't feel too bad: the last singer remembered all the words and they jeered her anyway! Tough crowd.
Vocabulary lists containing jeer
List 3
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Ghost
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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.
See Examples For:
Now, his detractors use the same phrase at his rallies to jeer him.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 11, 2026
"This was a jeer from two so-called men to a child," she said.
From BBC ● Mar. 1, 2026
One can hear every squeak of the shoes, every jeer from the loudmouths, every direction from the coaches.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2024
Many say they plan to jeer him or otherwise protest his presence.
From New York Times ● May 25, 2024
He has friends who jeer along with him, as if he is the boss.
From "Beast Rider" by Tony Johnston & María Elena Fontanot de Rhoads
“Good evening, everyone,” Bass began over jeers, in the tone of an elementary school teacher who knows her students are going to act extra.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
And after England's win against Croatia, the first hydration break during the match between Ghana and Panama was also greeted by jeers.
From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026
When the U.S. flag was paraded onto the pitch during the World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico City last week, jeers rained down from the crowd.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026
The jeers were loud, sustained and unambiguous — the sound of a city that overwhelmingly voted against this man, telling him exactly what it thought of him.
From Salon ● Jun. 11, 2026
Everyone jeers and cheers and generally acts lame as they get up and walk into the closet with we-are-so-beyond-this looks on their faces.
From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson
They jeered even louder and longer as he took the mound in the bottom of the first inning.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
Venezuelans jeered acting president Delcy Rodríguez and mocked National Guard troops, while some U.S. lawmakers criticized the government for allegedly limiting aid access.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
At others, he does so little defending that he is openly jeered inside the Bernabeu Stadium.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026
Some of those fans turned their backs during the national anthem, which many in the stands jeered at its start.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026
"Do you not understand what private means?" the coach jeered.
From "Ghost" by Jason Reynolds
“This is a family town,” the arresting officer tells jeering onlookers as he and the two others handcuff Gamble.
From Slate ● May 4, 2026
Undeterred, she began dancing before enduring more whistles and jeering during her on-court interview.
From Barron's ● Jan. 23, 2026
So what if the device that turns his jeering bullies into pals seems a little pat?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 31, 2025
Ekitike was a target even when he was in the dressing room, Newcastle fans jeering his name loudly when it was read out before the game.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2025
The jeering, hate-filled sound reminded Will of the merciless cruelty of children in a playground, but there were no teachers here to regulate things, no one to appeal to, nowhere to hide.
From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman
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.
