hoof

1 of 2

noun

ˈhu̇f How to pronounce hoof (audio) ˈhüf How to pronounce hoof (audio)
plural hooves ˈhüvz How to pronounce hoof (audio) ˈhu̇vz How to pronounce hoof (audio) also hoofs
Synonyms of hoofnext
1
: a curved covering of horn that protects the front of or encloses the ends of the digits of an ungulate mammal and that corresponds to a nail or claw
2
: a hoofed foot especially of a horse
see also:
on the hoof

Illustration of hoof

Illustration of hoof
  • 1 2 3 4 parts of wall
  • 1 toe
  • 2 side walls
  • 3 quarters
  • 4 buttresses
  • 5 bulbs
  • 6 sole
  • 7 frog

hoof

2 of 2

verb

hoofed; hoofing; hoofs

transitive verb

1
: to walk especially with haste
hoofed it to the lecture hall
2
: kick, trample

intransitive verb

: to move on the feet
especially : dance

Synonyms of hoof

Relevance

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of hoof in a Sentence

Verb The cast was hoofing on the stage.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Still, the Jockey Club continued to collect dues from members and Crawford promised that hooves would again thunder in Ruidoso. — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026 The stampede of hooves…the trumpeting of beasts… our friends and neighbors changing before our very eyes. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Verb
For Brighton’s equaliser, United played around the Brighton defence, only for Dalot to hoof the ball into the middle of the pitch, forcing centre-forward Benjamin Sesko to head back towards his own goal under pressure. — Chris McKenna, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026 Some fans shelled out $250 for parking at the American Dream mall and walked through a tunnel to MetLife, while others hoofed it to the stadium. — Elijah Westbrook, CBS News, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for hoof

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hōf; akin to Old High German huof hoof, Sanskrit śapha

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1641, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hoof was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing hoof

Rhymes for hoof

See All Rhymes for hoof

Browse Nearby Words

hooey
hoof
hoof-and-mouth disease
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hoof.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hoof. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

hoof

1 of 2 noun
ˈhu̇f How to pronounce hoof (audio) ˈhüf How to pronounce hoof (audio)
plural hooves ˈhu̇vz How to pronounce hoof (audio)
ˈhüvz
 or hoofs
1
: a covering of horn that protects the front of or encloses the ends of the toes of some mammals (as horses, oxen, and pigs) and that corresponds to a nail or claw
2
: a hoofed foot especially of a horse
hoofed
ˈhu̇ft, 
ˈhüft, 
ˈhu̇vd, 
ˈhüvd
adjective

hoof

2 of 2 verb
1
: to walk especially with haste
hoofed it to class
2
: to dance especially as a performer
watched the cast hoofing on the stage
hoofer noun

Medical Definition

hoof

noun
ˈhu̇f How to pronounce hoof (audio) ˈhüf How to pronounce hoof (audio)
plural hooves ˈhüvz How to pronounce hoof (audio) ˈhu̇vz How to pronounce hoof (audio) also hoofs
: a horny covering that protects the ends of the toes of numerous plant-eating 4-footed mammals (as horses or cattle)
also : a hoofed foot

More from Merriam-Webster on hoof

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hoof

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