shout-out

or shout·out

[ shout-out ]

noun

1. Informal. a quick public expression of thanks, admiration, etc.:

   I’d like to give a big shout-out to my mom who’s in the audience tonight.

Word History and Origins

Origin of shout-out¹

First recorded in 1990–95; shout + out

Example Sentences

Another shout-out might have been due to the organization that was leading the protests outside.

From The Daily Beast

For James, wearing the shirt was “more of a shout-out to the family more than anything,” he told the Akron Beacon Journal.

From The Daily Beast

“Special shout out to Nancy Snyderman at NBC News,” Mukpo tweeted.

From The Daily Beast

Ippudo, East Village, Midtown West No NYC ramen roundup would be complete without an Ippudo shout-out.

From The Daily Beast

A gay refugee couple from Iran have become Facebook superstars thanks to a shout-out on Humans of New York.

From The Daily Beast

It made her long to shout out: "Oh, he tells me a great deal more than ever he tells you!"

From Project Gutenberg

This made me feel glad and proud—more proud, I think, than I felt when I heard the people shout out my name.

From Project Gutenberg

Vaguely Lawrence heard a man on the deck above him shout out something, he could not distinguish what.

From Project Gutenberg

It is a night to make the timid tremble, and the bold to shout out a wild 'Halloo!'

From Project Gutenberg

"When missus bemeaned herself to shout out at me as if I'd been a sarpint," cried Clo, viciously.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• affirm
• announce
• declare
• demonstrate
• indicate
• profess
• publish
• trumpet

More About Shout Out

What does shout-out mean?

A shout-out is a short public acknowledgement of someone or something, especially by name. It’s usually to recognize someone in appreciation of them or something they did.

Shout-outs are typically given in a public setting, such as on the radio, during a live performance, or on social media.

Shout-out is informal. It’s commonly used to start a sentence that announces a shout-out, as in Shout-out to the people in the back!  

Less commonly, shout-out is also used as a verb, as in Let me shout-out a few people real quick. 

It’s very commonly spelled as shoutout.

Example: Thanks to your shout-out in the last post, I gained a ton of followers.

Where does shout-out come from?

The first known records of the term shout-out come from the 1990s. It’s simply a combination of shout and out—a shout-out often consists of shouting out someone’s name. The word is associated with hip-hop culture, perhaps due to the practice of DJs giving shout-outs in the club or rappers giving shout-outs in their lyrics. However, the word has achieved mainstream popularity.

When you give a shout-out to someone, it’s usually to express appreciation or thanks—or just to recognize their presence. Shout-out often refers to a namecheck, meaning it specifically names a person, as in I’d like to give a quick shout-out to Debbie, whose birthday is today! On social media, a shout-out is often an endorsement of the person and a call to support them by following them, liking their post, or something like that. But a shout-out doesn’t have to be a recognition of a named person. It can recognize an unknown person, a group of people, or even a thing. (Real quick shout-out to my homie T-saurus!)

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to shout-out?

• shoutout (alternate spelling)

What are some synonyms for shout-out?

• namecheck
• acknowledgement

What are some words that share a root or word element with shout-out? 

 

• shout
• out
• shout down

What are some words that often get used in discussing shout-out?

 

• recognize
• thank
• appreciate
• name
• quick
• follow

 

How is shout-out used in real life?

Shout-outs are almost always given in front of a public audience, whether in person or online. Shout-outs are usually positive, but not always—the word can be used in an ironic way to call something out in a critical way.

Shoutout again to the dad who stood at our show and just filmed his daughter having so much fun for 2 hours straight. Massive smile on his face, not interested in anything else. Did the same thing at the airport the next day when she got a picture. Legend.

— 🥾🌍 (@Truman_Black) March 24, 2019

Shoutout to the people giving out full sized chocolate bars. You’re making dreams come true.

— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) October 31, 2018

If you started school today Shoutout you man! Also how are you reading this… pay attention

— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) August 14, 2017

 

 

Try using shout-out!

Is shout-out used correctly in the following sentence?

Shout-out to all the doctors and nurses who keep us healthy.