What does hooted mean?
Hooted is the past tense and past participle of hoot, a word that connects the calls of owls with the noisy reactions of human audiences. Literally, to hoot is to make a loud, hollow cry; figuratively, it is to shout in derision, protest, or unrestrained laughter. The verb can describe an owl calling, an audience jeering at a speaker, or a crowd shouting someone down. “Hooted” often carries a strongly negative connotation when applied to people, suggesting mockery, hostility, or rejection, although it can also express ordinary amusement. In phrases such as “hooted with laughter,” it describes a loud collective response. The word is common in British and American English and is especially useful when explaining the range of reactions between respectful applause and openly derisive opposition.
To make a loud, hollow cry, especially the call of an owl; to shout derisively or mockingly; or to laugh loudly.
"The owl hooted repeatedly as the hikers approached its nest."
The figurative senses are often transitive or used with “at”: “They hooted the proposal” and “They hooted at the speaker.”
Shouted down by an audience or crowd; subjected to loud derision.
"The hooted speaker abandoned her attempt to address the gathering."
This participial use is uncommon but established, especially for a speaker or performance rejected by a hostile audience.
A hoot can be an owl’s call, a derisive shout, or the sound of someone laughing loudly.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hooted come from?
The word derives from hoot, an imitative verb formed in the early 17th century to represent a loud, hollow cry or shout. Hoot itself may have been influenced by the earlier word whoot, an imitation of an owl’s call, and by related forms in several European languages. The resulting forms include the noun hoot and the agent noun hooter, both associated with an owl or a device that produces a hooting sound.
How hooted is actually used
In its figurative use, hooted often implies ridicule or contempt rather than simple noise. The expression “hooted down” means that a person was silenced or prevented from speaking by a hostile audience.