Huzzah
What it means
An enthusiastic, historically flavored shout of approval or delight.
Reach for it when adding playful period character to a celebration
The cast raised a huzzah when the restored curtain moved smoothly.
Words to choose between 6
| playful |
|
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm | |
| formal | |
| literary |
-
playful
Fits when ordinary current speech suits the celebration
Careful Hooray loses huzzah's historical or mock-ceremonial flavor.
-
everyday
Fits when the vocal approval should be described generally
Careful Cheer names many sounds and actions rather than this particular cry.
-
warm
Fits when the response specifically praises a performance
Careful Bravo is tied more closely to skillful performance than general delight.
-
warm
Fits when a traditional but still familiar cheer is wanted
Careful Hurrah is less archaic and carries less theatrical period color.
-
formal
Fits when collective approval needs dignified reporting language
Careful Acclamation is abstract and lacks the exuberant sound of huzzah.
-
literary
vivat
Fits when a historically grounded cry meaning long live is specifically appropriate
Careful Vivat is Latin-derived, rare, and not a generic English synonym for any huzzah.
Opposites 3
- boo
- lament
- disapproval
Common phrases 3
-
shout huzzah
Festival volunteers began to shout huzzah when the lanterns were lit.
-
rousing huzzah
A rousing huzzah welcomed the historical society's oldest member.
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one final huzzah
One final huzzah closed the playful period pageant.
Usage notes
Keep in mind
Huzzah is archaic or theatrical in current English and can make serious praise sound ironic.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Mountainmage, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated