noun · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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hō'bō
UK:/ˈhəʊ.bəʊ/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:/ˈhoʊ.boʊ/
Australian:/ˈhəʉ.bəʉ/
rhymes with -əʊbəʊ
CMU ARPABET:HH OW1 B OW0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A wandering homeless person, especially (historical) one illegally travelling by rail or (derogatory) a penniless, unemployed bum.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Canada, US
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Any migratory laborer, whether homeless or not.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Canada, US
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A kind of large handbag.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To be a hobo, tramp, bum etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Qualifier: perhaps pejorative
Examples
Joe idly hoboed through half the country till he realized hoboing never gets you anywhere in life.
