Pronunciation: /hɑŋk/

Definitions of honk

noun a loud, harsh sound made by a horn or automobile

Example Sentences

A1 I heard a loud honk from the car behind me.

A2 The honk of the horn startled me as I crossed the street.

B1 The honk of the geese flying overhead filled the air.

B2 The honk of the ship's horn echoed across the harbor.

C1 The honk of the taxi cab alerted us to its presence on the busy street.

C2 The honk of the rally cars added to the excitement of the race.

verb to make a loud, harsh sound with a horn or automobile

Example Sentences

A1 The goose honked loudly at the park.

A2 The car honked to warn the pedestrians crossing the street.

B1 The bus driver honked the horn to signal that it was time to leave.

B2 The ship's captain honked the ship's horn as a greeting to the neighboring vessel.

C1 The orchestra conductor honked the horn section to play louder during the performance.

C2 The politician's motorcade honked through the streets as they made their way to the rally.

Examples of honk in a Sentence

formal The driver honked his horn to alert the pedestrians of his presence.

informal I always honk at my friends when I drive by their house.

slang Stop honking at me, I heard you the first time!

figurative Her words seemed to honk loudly in the quiet room, drawing everyone's attention.

Grammatical Forms of honk

past tense

honked

plural

honks

comparative

more honk

superlative

most honk

present tense

honk

future tense

will honk

perfect tense

has honked

continuous tense

is honking

singular

honk

positive degree

honk

infinitive

to honk

gerund

honking

participle

honking

Origin and Evolution of honk

First Known Use: 1601 year
Language of Origin: English
Story behind the word: The word 'honk' is believed to have originated as an onomatopoeic word imitating the sound of a goose or other bird. It is derived from the natural vocalization of animals.
Evolution of the word: Over time, 'honk' has come to be used to describe the sound made by car horns or other loud, harsh noises, in addition to its original association with bird calls. The word has also been extended metaphorically to describe loud, unpleasant sounds in general.