What does honked mean?
“Honked” is the past tense of “honk,” a verb describing the deep, forceful sound made by a vehicle horn. In its most common use, it reports that a horn sounded: “A taxi honked outside the station.” It can also describe the act of sounding the horn while driving, as in “the driver honked impatiently at the traffic.” The word is understood in both British and American English, though it is especially associated with the everyday sound of cars, lorries, and buses. In figurative use, “honked” can suggest a harsh, loud, or unwelcome noise, but the ordinary meaning is simply the action of sounding a horn. The short, blunt word effectively conveys the abrupt and easily recognized character of the sound.
verbThe past tense of honk: to make a deep, loud, nasal sound, especially the sound of a vehicle horn. It can also mean to drive or operate a vehicle in such a way that its horn sounds.
- To make a deep, loud, nasal sound, especially with a vehicle horn.
- To drive or operate a vehicle while sounding its horn.
"The lorry honked twice before reversing into the narrow lane."
"A car honked behind us as we waited at the crossing."
"He honked the old van to signal that the gate was open."
An abrupt, unmistakable honk is often the quickest way to announce that a vehicle is approaching — or that its driver is impatient.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of honked
The word “honk” is an imitative formation: it was created to represent the sound of a horn or similar instrument. Its historical relatives include “honker,” meaning a person or device that honks, and “honky-tonk,” whose name is also associated with a honking sound. The past-tense form “honked” follows the regular English pattern of adding “-ed” to the verb.
Related word forms
How honked is actually used
The word is most often heard in British and American English when referring to a vehicle horn. It can be used figuratively for a loud, abrupt, or intrusive sound, though that use is less common.