Meaning

An imitation of laughter, often used to express scorn or disbelief. Often doubled or tripled (haw haw or haw haw haw)..

Definitions by Sense

1. An imitation of laughter, often used to express scorn or disbelief. Often doubled or tripled (haw haw or haw haw haw).
2. An intermission or hesitation of speech, with a sound somewhat like "haw"; the sound so made.
3. To stop, in speaking, with a sound like haw; to speak with interruption and hesitation.
4. Fruit of the hawthorn.
5. (historical) A hedge.
6. (obsolete) Something that has little value or importance; a whit or jot.
7. An instruction for a horse or other animal to turn towards the driver, typically left.
8. (of an animal) To turn towards the driver, typically to the left.

Example Sentences

You think that song was good? Haw!

The bitter laugh laughs at that which is not good, it is the ethical laugh. The hollow laugh laughs at that which is not true, it is the intellectual laugh. Not good! Not true! Well well. But the mirthless laugh is the dianoetic laugh, down the snout — Haw! — so.

Hums or haws.

The kanary-nut may be considered equal to a hazel-nut, but I have met with nothing else superior to our crabs, our haws, beech-nuts, wild plums, and acorns; fruits which would be highly esteemed by the natives of these islands, and would form an important part of their sustenance.

wele not leaue a man of lawe, Nor a paper worth a hawe, And make him worſe than a dawe, That ſhall ſtand againſt Iacke Strawe.

This horse won't haw when I tell him to.

You may have to go to the front of the pack and physically haw the lead dog.

Word Forms

• haws
• hawing
• hawed

Synonyms for haw.

Antonyms for haw.

Related Words

When Should You Use Haw.?

Use haw. when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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