English Reference
Word interjection · verb

hey

interj. · v.
US /ˈheɪ/ UK /hˈeɪ/ hey
Definition
  1. 01 A1 Beginner Informal

    interj.you use this to make someone look at you or listen to you.

    interj.an exclamation used to attract the attention of another person.

    Simple

    “Hey, you dropped your glove on the sidewalk.”

    In context

    “Hey, watch out for that cyclist coming around the corner.”

    Synonyms
    excuse melook
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate InformalDialect

    interj.you add this to the end of a sentence to check if someone agrees with you.

    interj.used as a tag question to seek confirmation or to emphasise the preceding statement.

    Simple

    “It's a pretty nice day for a walk, hey?”

    In context

    “That was a rather unexpected turn of events in the final act, hey?”

    Synonyms
    rightdon't you think
  3. 03 C1 Advanced Informal

    v.to say 'hey' to someone as a greeting.

    v.to greet a person using the informal interjection 'hey'.

    Simple

    “I saw Sarah at the mall and she heyed me from across the food court.”

    In context

    “He heyed his colleagues as he walked through the open-plan office toward his desk.”

    Synonyms
    greethail
    Antonyms
    ignore
This entry
Level A1 · Beginner
Frequency Very common
Updated