hobo
Hobo (noun) means a homeless person who travels from place to place, historically often by illegally hopping freight trains. Example: “During the Great Depression, many hobos rode the rails looking for work.”
How to use hobo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA wandering homeless traveler — or, separately, a slouchy style of handbag.
The "homeless traveler" sense can be considered dated or mildly derogatory in modern use; "homeless person" is more neutral.
Word forms
hoboed past tense, hobos plural, hoboes plural, hobos singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
During the Great Depression, many _____ rode the rails looking for work.
Etymology
Origin unknown; possibly a contraction of "ho, boy" or linked to an old dialect word for a country bumpkin.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for hobo
See all rhymes for hobo →Frequently asked questions
What does “hobo” mean?
The word “hobo” means a homeless person who travels from place to place, historically often by illegally hopping freight trains. In plain terms, a wandering homeless traveler — or, separately, a slouchy style of handbag.
How do you pronounce “hobo”?
“Hobo” is pronounced HOH-boh (/ˈhoʊ.boʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “hobo” in a sentence?
Here is “hobo” used in a sentence: “During the Great Depression, many hobos rode the rails looking for work.”
What part of speech is “hobo”?
“Hobo” is a noun.
Is “hobo” a common word?
“Hobo” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “hobo” have?
“Hobo” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a homeless person who travels from place to place, historically often by illegally hopping freight trains.