verb
hoke
hohk
Hoke (verb) means to fake or exaggerate something to make it seem more dramatic, sentimental, or impressive than it really is (usually "hoke up"). Example: “The director hoked up the ending with unnecessary slow motion and swelling music.”
verb
1
To fake or exaggerate something to make it seem more dramatic, sentimental, or impressive than it really is (usually "hoke up").
"The director hoked up the ending with unnecessary slow motion and swelling music."
How to use hoke
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo artificially dress something up to seem more exciting or emotional than it is.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
hoke up a story
hoke it up
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Word forms
- Plural
- hokes
- Third person singular
- hokes
- Past tense
- hoked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The director _____ up the ending with unnecessary slow motion and swelling music.
Etymology
A back-formation from "hokum," meaning phony or exaggerated material.
Rhymes for hoke
See all rhymes for hoke →Frequently asked questions
What does “hoke” mean?
The word “hoke” means to fake or exaggerate something to make it seem more dramatic, sentimental, or impressive than it really is (usually "hoke up"). In plain terms, to artificially dress something up to seem more exciting or emotional than it is.
How do you pronounce “hoke”?
“Hoke” is pronounced hohk (/hoʊk/ in IPA).
How do you use “hoke” in a sentence?
Here is “hoke” used in a sentence: “The director hoked up the ending with unnecessary slow motion and swelling music.”
What part of speech is “hoke”?
“Hoke” is a verb.
