hoorays

1. 1
   noun

   Plural of hooray.

   The speech ended to a chorus of hoorays from the assembled supporters.

   A few scattered hoorays greeted the announcement before the room fell quiet.

   Note

   Turning the interjection into a count noun lets cheers be tallied: a chorus of hoorays, a few scattered hoorays. The same spelling also serves as the present-tense verb. In British colloquial use, a hooray can be short for Hooray Henry, a derogatory label. So the plural may name people rather than shouts, and only context tells you which is meant.

2. 2
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present indicative of hooray.

   She hoorays from the stands each time her daughter clears the high bar.

   The old sailor hoorays at every bit of good news that reaches the docks.

   Note

   An interjection turned verb conjugates like play: because the y follows a vowel, it simply adds -s, never -ies. The verb names the act of shouting itself and takes no object. What is being cheered comes in with at (hoorays at the news), and where the shout comes from comes in with from. Watch for the spelling it shares with the plural noun.

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