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Definition of shoo

shoo

/ʃuː/
shoo
Past Simple:shooed
•
Past Participle:shooed
•
Present Participle:shooing
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shoo Lexical Profile

shoo Game Scores & Validity

• interjection

1

An exclamation used to frighten or drive away birds, animals, or unwelcome people.

Example

""Shoo! Get off the kitchen counter!" she shouted at the stray cat."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for shoo

• verb

1

To drive or frighten away a person, bird, or animal by waving one's arms or shouting "shoo."

Example

"The shopkeeper stepped outside to shoo the pigeons away from the outdoor tables."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for shoo
Antonyms
View all antonyms for shoo

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse "shoo" with its homophone "shoe" (an item of footwear) or with the idiomatic spelling in "shoo-in" (a certain winner).

• Rhymes for shoo

• Nearby Words

shoetree
shogun
shogunate
shoo
shoot
shootaround
shootdown

Word Origin & Etymology

Dating back to the 15th century, "shoo" is of imitative origin, mimicking the sharp vocal sound instinctively made to startle and drive away birds or small animals.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Shoo. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/shoo
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