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Synonyms

shoo

American  
[shoo] / ʃu /

interjection

  1. (used to scare or drive away a cat, dog, chickens, birds, etc.)

verb (used with object)

shooed, shooing

  1. to drive away by saying or shouting “shoo.”

  2. to request or force (a person) to leave.

    I'll have to shoo you out of here now.

verb (used without object)

shooed, shooing

  1. to call out “shoo.”

shoo British  
/ ʃuː /

interjection

  1. go away!: used to drive away unwanted or annoying people, animals, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) to drive away by or as if by crying "shoo."

  2. (intr) to cry "shoo."

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of shoo

1475–85; earlier showe, shough, shooh, ssou (interjection), imitative; compare German schu

Vocabulary lists containing shoo

Unit 1, Academic Vocabulary

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In some cases, residents have tried to shoo away dogs from feeding spots to discourage people from providing them food.

From BBC • Sep. 2, 2025

It had been spooked by neighbors who were making noise to shoo it away.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 1, 2025

Most people are inclined to shoo flies away from food, and the thought of maggots in your bins is enough to make anyone's stomach turn.

From BBC • Jun. 26, 2025

The clip pans across a crowd of revelers at a park, many of whom are vigorously waving hats, blankets and other personal items to try and shoo away the teeny pests.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 21, 2023

I stop and shoo them with my hands.

From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.