Illustration of hoof
- 1 2 3 4 parts of wall
- 1 toe
- 2 side walls
- 3 quarters
- 4 buttresses
- 5 bulbs
- 6 sole
- 7 frog
1
: a curved covering of horn that protects the front of or encloses the ends of the digits of an ungulate mammal and that corresponds to a nail or claw
2
: a hoofed foot especially of a horse
Examples of hoof in a Sentence
Verb
The cast was hoofing on the stage.
Recent Examples on the Web
John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2025
As the carriages rolled through the estate toward Windsor Castle, the sound of hooves echoed against the walls of Windsor, which was founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century and has been home to 40 monarchs since then.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 17 Sep. 2025
William Goodman, Robb Report, 1 May 2025
Not since The Rosie O’Donnell Show have we been so frequently blessed with hoofers hoofing about in the ol’ hoof house.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hoof
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Noun
Evolution has adapted the digits of mammals for an enormous range of uses, from our opposable thumbs to the spindly digits that support bat wings to the robust bones that support the hoofs of horses.
—John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2025
As the carriages rolled through the estate toward Windsor Castle, the sound of hooves echoed against the walls of Windsor, which was founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century and has been home to 40 monarchs since then.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
One of Wilson’s focuses was a substantial investment in the ventilation system, which hoofs up smoke like a super-charged Dyson.
—William Goodman, Robb Report, 1 May 2025
Not since The Rosie O’Donnell Show have we been so frequently blessed with hoofers hoofing about in the ol’ hoof house.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hoof
Cite this Entry
“Hoof.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hoof. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
plural hooves
ˈhu̇vz 
ˈhüvz
or hoofs
1
: a covering of horn that protects the front of or encloses the ends of the toes of some mammals (as horses, oxen, and pigs) and that corresponds to a nail or claw
2
: a hoofed foot especially of a horse
hoofed
adjective
ˈhu̇ft
ˈhüft
ˈhu̇vd
ˈhüvd
hoof
2 of 2 verb1
: to walk especially with haste
hoofed it to class
2
: to dance especially as a performer
watched the cast hoofing on the stage
hoofer
noun
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