Hoover
2 synonyms for Hoover, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — British informal: a vacuum cleaner, regardless of brand.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
vacuum-clean
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
British informal: a vacuum cleaner, regardless of brand.
“Can you get the hoover out and do the living room?”
vacuum
vacuum-clean
2. verb
British informal: to vacuum, or to consume something quickly and greedily.
“She hoovered the stairs before guests arrived.”
How to use Hoover
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
run the hoover
hoover up
Etymology
From the Hoover brand name, one of the earliest popular vacuum cleaner makers, later generalized into everyday British usage for any vacuum cleaner.
Full origin of Hoover →Frequently asked questions
What does “Hoover” mean?
The word “Hoover” means british informal: a vacuum cleaner, regardless of brand. In plain terms, british word for a vacuum cleaner, or the act of vacuuming (or eating fast).
How do you pronounce “Hoover”?
“Hoover” is pronounced HOO-vuh (/ˈhuvɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Hoover” in a sentence?
Here is “Hoover” used in a sentence: “Can you get the hoover out and do the living room?”
What part of speech is “Hoover”?
Depending on how it is used, “Hoover” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “Hoover” a common word?
“Hoover” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Hoover” have?
“Hoover” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: british informal: a vacuum cleaner, regardless of brand.
Why do British people call a vacuum cleaner a Hoover?
In British informal usage, Hoover is used as a general word for a vacuum cleaner regardless of the actual brand, similar to how some trademarked names become everyday terms for a whole category of product.
What is the difference between 'to hoover' and 'to vacuum'?
Both describe the same cleaning action in British English, since 'to hoover' is an informal verb meaning to vacuum. The verb can also extend informally to mean consuming something quickly and greedily, such as hoovering up a plate of food.
Is 'hoover' used the same way in American English?
'Hoover' as a verb or generic noun for a vacuum cleaner is chiefly British informal usage; American English typically uses 'vacuum' instead for both the appliance and the action of cleaning with it.
