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Meaning & use

hoots

noun, verb, interjection·Everyday

Last updated

UK/huːts/
US/huːts/

“hoots” is a form of “hoot”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. nounplural

    The loud cry of an owl, or a similar sound made by a person or vehicle.

    Grammar: Plural of 'hoot'; use 'a hoot' for one cry and 'hoots' for several.

    Patterns

    • the hoots of an owl
    • hoots of laughter
    • give a hoot

    We heard the hoots of an owl in the dark forest.

    The crowd let out hoots of laughter at his joke.

    The train's hoots echoed through the valley.

  2. verbintransitive

    Makes a loud cry like an owl, or laughs or shouts loudly.

    Grammar: No object; often used with 'at' when someone is being laughed at: hoot at someone.

    Patterns

    • hoot at someone
    • hoot with laughter
    • an owl hoots

    An owl hoots every night near our house.

    The audience hooted at the bad performance.

    They hooted with laughter at the silly video.

  3. nounsingularinformal

    Something very funny or amusing.

    Grammar: Used in the phrase 'a hoot'; informal and usually singular.

    Patterns

    • be a hoot
    • a real hoot

    His stories are always a hoot.

    The party was a hoot from start to finish.

  4. interjectionScottishold-fashioned

    Used in Scottish English to show mild annoyance, surprise, or disbelief.

    Grammar: Used alone at the start of a sentence, mainly in Scotland.

    Patterns

    • hoots!
    • hoots, man!

    Hoots, it's freezing out there!

    Hoots, I've forgotten my keys again.

Word forms

base formhoot
third person singularhoots
past tensehooted
past participlehooted
-ing formhooting

Common combinations

hoots of laughter
There were hoots of laughter when the clown fell over.
give a hoot
He doesn't give a hoot what people think.
hoot at someone
The fans hooted at the referee.
a hoot
Her impression of the teacher was a hoot.
the hoot of an owl
The hoot of an owl woke me up.

Synonyms and how they differ

screech
A high, harsh cry; owls hoot with a softer, rounder sound, while some animals screech.
howl
A long, loud cry of pain or laughter; 'hoot' is shorter and more owl-like.
shout
A general loud call; 'hoot' suggests a specific sound like an owl or a car horn.

Word family

hoot noun
A single loud cry, especially of an owl.
hooting noun
The act or sound of making hoots.
hooter noun
A device that makes a loud sound, such as a car horn or factory whistle.

Commonly confused: hoots or hooves? hoots or hoots mon?

hoots vs hooves

'Hooves' is the plural of 'hoof', the hard part of an animal's foot; 'hoots' is the plural of 'hoot', a sound.

hoots vs hoots mon

A Scottish phrase that sounds similar but is a different expression, used to address a man.

Practice

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