What does "hoo" mean?
An uttering of the cry 'hoo'.
Hoo
/huː/ adv, intj, name, noun, pron
adv, intj, name, noun, pron ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An uttering of the cry 'hoo'.
- Grammar: hoo is listed as adv, intj, name, noun, pron.
- Nearest alternatives: cackle, call, carol, caw.
- Usage evidence: 'Aye, aye,' said the father, impatiently, 'hoo'll come. Hoo's a bit set up now, because hoo thinks I might ha' spoken more civilly; but hoo'll think better on it, and come. I can read her proud bonny face like a book.
How to use "hoo"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "hoo" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "hoo" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "hoo" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "hoo" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "hoo" is acting as adv, intj, name, noun, pron in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "cackle" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "hoo", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An uttering of the cry 'hoo'.
"Improvising a stretcher from a cupboard door, they levered Mrs Dibble on to it and got her upstairs to "Hoos!" and "Ows!" of anguish, and laid her on the bed, where Rita administered another stiff dose of gin."
- 2 A strip of land; a peninsula; a spur or ridge.
Adverb
- 1 how Geordie, Northumbria, not-comparable
Pronoun
- 1 she Derbyshire, Yorkshire, feminine, nominative, singular, third-person
"'Aye, aye,' said the father, impatiently, 'hoo'll come. Hoo's a bit set up now, because hoo thinks I might ha' spoken more civilly; but hoo'll think better on it, and come. I can read her proud bonny face like a book."
- 2 he, also a gender-neutral third person pronoun England, South, West, West-Midlands, feminine, nominative, singular, third-person
Intj
- 1 hurrah; an exclamation of triumphant joy obsolete
"Our enemy is banish'd! he is gone! Hoo! hoo!"
- 2 Used to attract the attention of others. Geordie
""Hoo yee!""
- 3 An exclamation of pain.
"Old Peter, summoned to assist at getting Mrs Dibble upstairs, made no pretence of commiseration for the sufferer. "Gone and done it again, have you?" he said with satisfaction. "About the best thing you could have done, the way it'll keep you out of the shop a bit longer," which so far revived Mrs Dibble that she exclaimed fiercely, "I don't want none of your cheek, Peter Bodfish and not a minute you'd stay in my shop if - Hoo! Ow! Me leg - ""
Proper Noun
- 1 The village of Hoo St Werburgh on the Hoo Peninsula in Kent, England.
"Hoo, St. Warburgh. […] Richard I confirmed to that Abbey a market in Hoo, of the gift of Maud de Canvill(s)."
- 2 A village and civil parish in East Suffolk district, Suffolk, England (OS grid ref TM2558).
"Bachcroft, Thomas; son of Thomas Bachcroft, of Bexwell, Norfolk. Educated under Mr. Spight. Age 18. Admitted pensioner, March 10, 1518. Man, John; of Hoo, Suffolk; son of Richard Man, mediocris fortunae. Admitted sizar. Tutor, Mr. Reve."
Example
"'Aye, aye,' said the father, impatiently, 'hoo'll come. Hoo's a bit set up now, because hoo thinks I might ha' spoken more civilly; but hoo'll think better on it, and come. I can read her proud bonny face like a book."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "hoo"?
Common synonyms include: cackle, call, carol, caw, chatter, cheep.
How do you use "hoo" in a sentence?
'Aye, aye,' said the father, impatiently, 'hoo'll come. Hoo's a bit set up now, because hoo thinks I might ha' spoken more civilly; but hoo'll think better on it, and come. I can read her proud bonny face like a book.
How do you pronounce "hoo"?
Pronounced /huː/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English hoo, shoo (“she”) from Old English hēo (“she”). More at she.
Etymology 2
From Middle English hoo, ho. More at ho.
Etymology 3
From Middle English howe, hu (“how”), from Old English hū (“how”). More at how.
Etymology 4
From Middle English hough, hogh, ho, from Old English hōh. Doublet of hough.
Etymology 5
From Old English hōh; see hoo.