honk

1 of 2

verb

ˈhäŋk 

ˈhȯŋk

honked; honking; honks

intransitive verb

1

: to make the characteristic cry of a goose

2

: to make a sound resembling the cry of a goose

transitive verb

: to cause to honk

honk a horn

honk

2 of 2

noun

: the characteristic cry of a goose

also : a similar sound

Examples of honk in a Sentence

Verb

We could hear the geese honking overhead.

I honked at the car in front of me.

Noun

the honk of a horn

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

When passing team cars honk their klaxons, the three pensioners scream with the same giddiness as the children who have briefly left the nearby swimming pool. — Chris Marshall-Bell, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Outside the airport, the streets are busy, a cacophony of honking horns and motorbikes buzzing between cars, buses, and tuk-tuks as people travel around the Nepalese capital. — Nicola Chilton, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026

Noun

As the Knicks closed in, and then closed it out, during the fourth quarter, each new bucket was greeted with cheers and car honks from Brooklyn to the Bronx. — Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 14 June 2026

Within an hour, skyscrapers flatten to golden sand, and the honk of yellow taxis is replaced by the soothing sounds of rolling waves. — Zoey Goto, Travel + Leisure, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

imitative

First Known Use

Verb

1813, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1813, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for honk

• bonk
• bronk
• cronk
• tonk

Kids Definition

honk

noun

ˈhäŋk, 

ˈhȯŋk

: the cry of a goose

also : a similar sound (as of a horn)

honk verb