shout out

/ˈʃaʊt aʊt/
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Public recognition for someone in media or conversation, and a separate use for saying something loudly or suddenly.

Examples

  • I want to shout out the nurses who kept the clinic open during the storm.
  • The coach shouted out instructions from the sideline.
  • Please do not shout out during the final round.
  • Fans shouted out the chorus until the singer laughed.
  • The streamer shouted out three small channels at the end of the broadcast.

Similar words

shout
holler
credit
recognize
thank
acknowledge
call out
praise
exclaim
yell

Meanings

Public recognition or greeting

media
informal
A public greeting, thanks, praise, or acknowledgment of someone, especially in media, performance, or online posts.

Usage

Use shout out when the point is public recognition, often with to for the person being thanked or praised.

Examples

  • I want to shout out the nurses who kept the clinic open during the storm.
  • The streamer shouted out three small channels at the end of the broadcast.
  • Before the awards ended, Mara gave a shout out to her parents.
  • The newsletter shouts out local volunteers every Friday.
  • Please shout out the design team when the campaign launches.

Common mistakes

Shout out you misplaces the pronoun, and for often replaces the needed to after the noun phrase.
IncorrectCorrect
I will shout out you at the meeting. I will shout you out at the meeting.
The host gave a shout out for the volunteers. The host gave a shout out to the volunteers.
Thanks for shouting to our sponsors in the video. Thanks for shouting out our sponsors in the video.
She made a shout out on her mentor. She gave a shout out to her mentor.

Similar words

Say loudly or suddenly

speech
neutral
To say something loudly or suddenly so others hear it, often as an interruption or spontaneous call.

Usage

Use shout out for words or answers said aloud, especially when the speech breaks into a quiet or orderly setting.

Examples

  • A student shouted out the answer before anyone was called on.
  • When the lights went off, someone shouted out, "Is everyone okay?"
  • Fans shouted out the chorus until the singer laughed.
  • The coach shouted out instructions from the sideline.
  • Please do not shout out during the final round.

Common mistakes

Shout out of the answer adds a false preposition, while quiet speech needs another verb.
IncorrectCorrect
The child shouted out of the answer. The child shouted out the answer.
He shouted out me from the balcony. He shouted out to me from the balcony.
Please do not shout out during your hand. Please do not shout out before raising your hand.
She shouted out the secret quietly. She whispered the secret.

Similar words

Usage

Use context to separate public recognition from literal loud speech, and use to after a noun phrase such as a shout out.

Common mistakes

Shout out you puts the pronoun in the wrong place, and shout out should not replace quiet verbs such as whisper.

Etymology

From shout plus out. Merriam-Webster records the public-acknowledgment noun as originally African American English, popularized in hip-hop and broadcast contexts in the late twentieth century.

FAQ

What does shout out mean?

Shout out can mean to publicly greet, thank, praise, or acknowledge someone. It can also mean to say something loudly or suddenly.

Is shout out the same as shout-out?

Shout-out is the standard noun spelling in many dictionaries, while shout out is common for the verb phrase and is often seen informally as a noun.

Can shout out be a verb?

Yes. Shout out can mean publicly acknowledge someone, as in shout out the volunteers, or call words loudly.

How do I use shout out for thanks?

Use shout out or give a shout out to when thanks or praise is public, as in give a shout out to the team.

What is the loud-call sense of shout out?

It means saying words loudly or suddenly, often before being invited to speak, as in shouted out the answer.

Is shout out formal?

The recognition sense is informal and common in broadcasts, social media, speeches, and team messages. The loud-call sense is neutral.

What preposition follows shout out?

After the noun phrase, use to for the person recognized: a shout out to Maya. In the verb phrase, a direct object is common: shout out Maya.

What are synonyms for shout out?

For public recognition, synonyms include acknowledge, credit, thank, and give props. For loud speech, use call out, yell, or cry out.

Does shout out have an antonym?

The public-recognition sense has no direct opposite. For loud speech, whisper is a natural opposite.

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