tout

American  

[tout] / taʊt /

verb (used without object)

1. to persistently solicit business, employment, votes, or the like.

2. Horse Racing. to act as a tout.

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verb (used with object)

1. to persistently solicit support for.

2. to describe or advertise boastfully; publicize or promote; praise extravagantly.

   a highly touted nightclub.

3. Horse Racing.

   1. to provide information on (a horse) running in a particular race, especially for a fee.

   2. to spy on (a horse in training) in order to gain information for the purpose of betting.

4. to watch; spy on.

noun

1. a person who persistently solicits business, employment, support, or the like.

2. Horse Racing.

   1. a person who gives information on a horse, especially for a fee.

   2. Chiefly British. a person who spies on a horse in training for the purpose of betting.

3. British. a ticket scalper.

tout British  

/ taʊt /

verb

1. to solicit (business, customers, etc) or hawk (merchandise), esp in a brazen way

2. (intr)

   1. to spy on racehorses being trained in order to obtain information for betting purposes

   2. to sell, or attempt to sell, such information or to take bets, esp in public places

3. informal (tr) to recommend flatteringly or excessively

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noun

1. 1. a person who spies on racehorses so as to obtain betting information to sell

   2. a person who sells information obtained by such spying

2. a person who solicits business in a brazen way

3. Also called: ticket tout.  a person who sells tickets unofficially for a heavily booked sporting event, concert, etc, at greatly inflated prices

4. a police informer

Other Word Forms

• touter noun

Etymology

Origin of tout

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Middle English tuten “to look out, peer”; probably akin to Old English tōtian “to peep out”

Explanation

To tout means to praise, boast, or brag about. If you like to tout your skill as a skier, you tell people you can go down expert-level hills. Sometimes parents will get into bragging wars about their children, each touting the accomplishments of his or her child. Sometimes the word means more of "to claim." The company touted the lotion as a solution to wrinkles. Broccoli has been touted as the cancer-fighting vegetable. In England, a tout is a person who gives advice about gambling. If you're looking to play some money on the ponies, go see the tout who hangs out at Jackie’s bar for a tip.

Example Sentences

Voices from across the military tout humble, dignified professionalism as essential to morale and project confidence from leadership down through the ranks.

From Slate • Apr. 13, 2026

Does it hurt?,’ ” said Colleen Ferguson, who owns EMS Body Atelier in Santa Barbara, Calif. Her “obsessed” converts tout toned glutes and abs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Curtis has been traveling across California to tout his methods.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

The US Senate overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan housing bill Thursday aimed at boosting construction of affordable homes, giving lawmakers a rare legislative victory they hope to tout to voters worried about rising living costs.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

Brother Quang remembers Father often said tuyett sut, the Vietnamese way to pronounce the French phrase tout de suite meaning right away.

From "Inside Out and Back Again" by Thanhha Lai

Related Words

• laud
• praise
• proclaim
• promote
• publicize
• trumpet