hollering

5.9

A very loud shout that sounds like an animal call

noun
/ˈhɑːlərɪŋ/

Informal

: grito

In the quiet forest, the hollering of the owl could be heard echoing in the night.

Examples

Republicans erupted into House of Commons style hollering in response.
Sandra Cisneros, "Guadalupe the Sex Goddess," in Goddess of the Americas 46-51, at 50-51; Cisneros, "Tepeyac," in Woman Hollering Creek and Other

Academic text (2009)
So when I start hollering, did did TJ?
Stop jumping up hollering out a man if you ain't really been listening to what the pastor say.
Stop jumping up hollering out a man if you ain't really been listening to what the pastor say.
Woman Hollering Creek, for instance, offers a gamut of pieces of self-discovery, set primarily in southern Texas and Mexico, often overstylized, on the role of women in our collective psyche: Rachel, narrating "Eleven," tells what it is like being a girl of that age.

Academic text (1996)
The child's hollering filled the playground, making everyone turn to see what was happening.
During the sports event, a loud hollering erupted from the crowd as the team scored a goal.

Synonyms

scream

vshollering

596 1.0

A loud high cry made when someone is afraid or hurt

is loud too but lower pitched and more animal-like

yelling

vshollering

172 1.0

A loud shout showing pain, anger or strong feeling

is like those cries but often imitates animal calls more strongly

shout

vshollering

162 1.0

A loud cry to get attention or show strong feeling

is similar but often sounds wilder and less controlled

roar

vshollering

142 1.0

A loud deep continuous sound made by animals, crowds, or machines

is shorter and more like a single animal-style cry rather than continuous sound

shouting

vshollering

129 1.0

Loud sounds people make to show strong feelings, for example at sports games

is a specific type of such cry, usually rougher and animal-like

screaming

vshollering

92 1.9

A very loud high, piercing noise that hurts the ears

is loud as well but more guttural and animal-resembling

yell

vshollering

75 1.0

A loud, sudden shout made when you feel strong pain, anger or excitement

is equally loud but usually harsher and more animal-like in sound

screeching

vshollering

58 3.3

A very loud high sound that hurts your ears

is loud too but more throaty and animal-sounding rather than shrill

howling

vshollering

47 4.1

A long loud cry that shows strong feeling

is equally loud but tends to be shorter and sharper like an animal

whoop

vshollering

Informal

46 4.9

A loud high shout to show excitement or joy

is also loud but usually lower and more raw sounding

holler

vshollering

Informal

35 7.5

A very loud shout or cry that shows strong feeling

is equally loud but often more regional or informal in sound

roaring

vshollering

30 3.4

A deep loud sound like an animal or thunder

is more abrupt and resembles a single sharp animal-like shout

bellow

vshollering

20 4.6

A very loud deep shout like a lion's roar

is similarly animal-like but often higher in pitch and sharper

whooping

vshollering

20 3.7

A loud shout that shows joy or approval

is similarly loud but typically sounds rougher and more animal-like

shrieking

vshollering

15 3.0

A loud, very high sound like a scream made by a person or animal

is similarly intense but usually lower and animal-like

huzzah

vshollering

Archaic

8 9.9

A loud shout of joy or approval at a celebration

is louder but often less cheerful and more primitive in tone

yelping

vshollering

5 2.6

A short high sound a dog makes when it is hurt or afraid

is louder and more like a wild animal's call rather than a small yelp

hoorah

vshollering

Informal

4 7.8

A loud shout that shows joy or approval

is similar in volume but less ritual and more animal-like

bellowing

vshollering

4 5.9

A very loud deep shout like an animal's roar

is closer but usually less deep and more harshly shouty

yowl

vshollering

3 7.2

A loud, long cry that sounds like an animal in pain

is similar in plaintive tone but often shorter and rougher

loud holler

vshollering

1 4.1

A very loud shout to show strong feeling or get attention

is similar but emphasizes an animal-like quality rather than emotion

hollo

vshollering

Archaic

1 9.9

A very loud cry like an animal's call made by a person

is like that call but stresses a rough, animal-like tone

halloo

vshollering

Archaic

1 9.9

A loud shout to call dogs in a hunt or get someone's attention

is comparable but tends to imitate animal sounds rather than human signals

holloa

vshollering

Archaic

9.9

A loud shout to get attention from far away

is comparable but usually sounds more like an animal call

howler

vshollering

4.4

A loud strong cry that someone or an animal makes

is similar but usually shorter and more speechlike in use

How Loud

roaring

30 3.4

bellowing

4 5.9

hollering

Informal

5.9

shout

162 1.0

Surface Forms

hollering singular

hollerings plural

Morphology

hollering = holler (transparent) = holler + ing

The noun is a straightforward deverbal noun formed from 'holler' + '-ing', meaning the action or sound of hollering.

Etymology

Hollering comes from the simple verb holler, which originally meant 'to shout' or call loudly. Think of someone calling across a field or an animal's loud cry — that's why hollering means a very loud, animal-like shout.