1
: any of various implements for tilling, mixing, or raking
especially
: a tool with a thin flat blade on a long handle used especially for cultivating, weeding, or loosening the earth around plants
2
: backhoe
hoed; hoeing
: to work with a tool with a thin flat blade on a long handle to cultivate, weed, or loosen the earth around plants : to use or work with a hoe (see hoe entry 1) or backhoe
hoeing in the garden all day
1
: to weed, cultivate, or thin (a crop) with a hoe (see hoe entry 1)
hoeing carrots and turnips
2
: to remove (weeds) by hoeing
3
: to dress or cultivate (land) by hoeing
The garden needs to be hoed.
Examples of hoe in a Sentence
Verb
The garden has to be hoed.
She was hoeing in the garden all day.
Recent Examples on the Web
Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 15 Feb. 2025
If the rake tines or hoe or shovel blade are up and then stepped upon, there is a potential danger of injury.
—The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2025
Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Mar. 2025
The directors branch is notoriously snobby, which will be a tough row to hoe for Wicked’s Jon M. Chu, who got his start directing films in the Step Up and G.I. Joe franchises.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 23 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hoe
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Noun
The firm produced 11,000 hoes per week from 54 small hoe-shops in the 1750s.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 15 Feb. 2025
If the rake tines or hoe or shovel blade are up and then stepped upon, there is a potential danger of injury.
—The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2025
Verb
Wayward rhizomes that pop up as new plants can be hoed or chopped.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Mar. 2025
The directors branch is notoriously snobby, which will be a tough row to hoe for Wicked’s Jon M. Chu, who got his start directing films in the Step Up and G.I. Joe franchises.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 23 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hoe
Cite this Entry
“Hoe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hoe. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hoe
1 of 2 noun
: a farm or garden tool with a thin flat blade at nearly a right angle to a long handle that is used especially for weeding and loosening the earth
hoe
2 of 2 verb
hoed; hoeing
: to use or work with a hoe
Biographical Definition
Hoe
2 of 2biographical name (2)
Robert 1784–1833 American (English-born) printing-press manufacturer
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