# hack

/ˈhæk/ (US) · /hˈæk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hack
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to cut roughly

verb · CEFR B2

to cut or chop something in a rough or violent way.

For teachers: to chop or cut something with rough, heavy blows, often without precision.

- He had to hack through the thick bushes to find the hidden path.
- The explorers spent hours hacking through the dense jungle undergrowth with machetes to reach the ruins.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'at' or 'through'.

### 2. to access a computer illegally

verb · CEFR B2

to use a computer to connect to another person's computer or account without permission.

For teachers: to gain unauthorized access to a computer system or network by manipulating code or exploiting security vulnerabilities.

- Someone tried to hack my email account last night.
- Cybercriminals managed to hack the bank's central server, compromising the personal data of thousands of customers.

Usage: Can be used transitively or with the preposition 'into'.

### 3. to manage or tolerate

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to be able to handle a difficult situation or job.

For teachers: to withstand or cope with a challenging environment or task; frequently used in the negative.

- The new job was very stressful, and he just couldn't hack it.
- Many recruits find the physical intensity of the training program too much to hack and drop out within the first week.

Teaching tip: Commonly used in the fixed phrase 'can't hack it'.

### 5. a clever trick or shortcut

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a clever or quick way to do something more easily.

For teachers: a clever tip, trick, or efficient workaround that simplifies a task or improves productivity.

- I found a great kitchen hack for peeling garlic quickly.
- The article listed several productivity hacks designed to help office workers manage their time more effectively.

Teaching tip: Very common in modern social media contexts like 'life hacks'.

### 6. a mediocre writer or worker

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Formal

a writer or journalist who does boring work just for money, rather than for quality.

For teachers: a person, typically a journalist or writer, who produces mediocre or unoriginal work for hire.

- The book was written by a political hack who didn't care about the truth.
- Critics dismissed the screenplay as the work of a Hollywood hack who relied on tired clichés and predictable plot twists.

Teaching tip: This is almost always used as an insult to describe someone's professional output.

## Examples

- This kitchen hack saves me ten minutes every morning.
- The internet is full of productivity hacks, but most people just need to put their phones away and focus.
- The veteran journalist dismissed the new hire as a political hack who was more interested in pleasing the party than reporting the facts accurately.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.