dude Meaning & Definition
What Does Dude Mean?
Dude is used as a noun meaning A man, generally a younger man. It is also used to mean A term of address for someone, often but not exclusively a man, particularly when hailing, cautioning them or offering advice. As an interjection, it means A term of address, usually for a man, conveying awe, excitement, surprise, annoyance, etc. As a verb, it means To address someone as dude.
Quick Facts About Dude
| Part of speech | noun, interjection, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /duːd/ |
| Synonyms | swell, dandy and beau |
| Plural | dudes |
| Verb forms | dudes, dudeing, duded |
Dude Definition (Noun)
- A man, generally a younger man.
So we were at the mall and these two dudes just walk up to us and say "hi".
- A term of address for someone, often but not exclusively a man, particularly when hailing, cautioning them or offering advice.
Hey, dude, how's it going?
- A tourist.
- A birder who has expensive clothing and equipment, but scant knowledge of birds, their fieldmarks, habits, etc.
- A man who is very concerned about his dress and appearance; a dandy, a fop.
- In the west, a city slicker with scant knowledge of horses, cattle, or frontier survival.
Dude as an Interjection
- A term of address, usually for a man, conveying awe, excitement, surprise, annoyance, etc.
Dude! You finally called!
Dude as a Verb
- To address someone as dude.
- To take a vacation in a dude ranch.
- Usually followed by up: to dress up, to wear smart or special clothes.
Noun
- (used in the vocative) A term of address for someone, typically a man, particularly when cautioning him or offering him advice.
Dude, I'd be careful around the principal; he's having a bad day.
- An inexperienced cowboy.
Interjection
- A term of address, usually for a man, conveying awe, excitement, surprise, etc.
Dude! You finally called!
Synonyms of Dude
Dude synonyms and antonyms →Dude in a Sentence
So we were at the mall and these two dudes just walk up to us and say "hi".
Hey, dude, how's it going?
Dude, I'd be careful around the principal; he's having a bad day.
Watch it, dude; you almost knocked me over.
Dude! You finally called!
Word Forms & Grammar
dude (plural dudes)
dude
dude (third-person singular simple present dudes, present participle dudeing or duding, simple past and past participle duded)
Words That Rhyme With Dude
Origin of Dude
Origin 1: Uncertain,[1] though likely a clipping of doodle (“fool, simpleton, mindless person”), perhaps with reference to the fashionable “Yankee Doodle dandy” in the 18th-century lyrics of the song “Yankee Doodle”;[2] the word is first attested in 1883[3][4] as a New York City slang term of contempt for a “fastidious man, fop”.[5] If so, then related to German Low German Dudeldop, Dudendop (“fool, dunce”), Saterland Frisian Duddigegen (“idiot”).
Origin 2: It has also been suggested that the word is derived from dudes (“old rags”; compare duds) and dudesman (“scarecrow”),[6] or possibly related to dawdle; It has also been suggested the word derives from the Irish dúid.
Origin 3: The common claim that the term derives from (or is) a word for a camel's foreskin (or some other vulgar thing, like a hair on a cow, horse, donkey, or elephant's bottom) is false.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dude
Is dude a noun or an interjection?
Dude is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as an interjection and a verb.
What is another word for dude?
You can replace dude with words such as swell, dandy and beau. See the full list of dude synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of dude?
The plural of dude is dudes.
What is the past tense of dude?
The past tense of dude is duded. The present participle is dudeing.