Definitions
01a clue
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a small piece of information that helps you solve a puzzle or find an answer.
n. a piece of information that serves as a clue or provides assistance in solving a problem or mystery.
日本語:ヒント※
“If you can't guess the password, I can give you a little hint.”
“The crossword puzzle was exceptionally difficult, but the cryptic hint for seven-across eventually led me to the correct answer.”
02an indirect suggestion
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. something you say or do to suggest an idea without saying it directly.
n. an indirect or implicit suggestion intended to be understood without a direct statement.
日本語:暗示※
“He dropped a hint that he wanted a new watch for his birthday.”
“She dropped several subtle hints about her dissatisfaction with the project, hoping the manager would intervene without a formal complaint being filed.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03a tiny amount
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a very small amount of something, like a taste, smell, or colour.
n. a very slight trace or barely perceptible amount of a quality or substance.
“The sauce has a hint of garlic, but it isn't too strong.”
“The wine was crisp and dry, finishing with a delicate hint of green apple and toasted oak on the palate.”
04computing instruction
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical
n. a special instruction given to a computer program to help it work better.
n. a suggestion or instruction provided to a database engine or compiler to optimise query execution or resource allocation.
“The developer added a hint to the database query to make it run faster.”
“By using a join hint, the database administrator forced the optimiser to use a specific index, significantly reducing the execution time of the report.”
Synonyms
05to suggest indirectly
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to suggest something without saying it in a clear or direct way.
v. to suggest or indicate something indirectly or covertly. Often used with the preposition 'at'.
“The clouds are dark, which might hint at a storm coming later.”
“The CEO hinted at the possibility of a merger during the press conference, though she refused to provide any specific details to the reporters.”
Usage
Commonly used with 'at' when the suggestion is indirect.
06pay attention
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
interj. a word you say to show that you just gave someone a secret suggestion.
interj. used to signal that a previous remark was intended as a suggestion or should be heeded. Often repeated for emphasis.
“I'm really hungry and the fridge is empty. Hint, hint.”
“It would be lovely if someone helped with the dishes—hint, hint—before the guests arrive for the evening.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “hint” in context.
Verb
01. drop a hint
“She dropped a subtle hint that she was hoping for a promotion by the end of the year.”
verb + noun
02. give a hint
“The teacher gave us a helpful hint about which chapters would be on the final exam.”
verb + noun
03. take a hint
“I tried to end the conversation several times, but he just couldn't take a hint.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. broad hint
“He gave me a broad hint that the surprise party was actually for my birthday.”
adj + noun
05. subtle hint
“There was a subtle hint of cinnamon in the cake that made it taste extraordinary.”
adj + noun
06. vague hint
“The report provided only a vague hint of the financial troubles the company was facing.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. hint of irony
“She spoke with a slight hint of irony in her voice when she congratulated her rival.”
noun + of + noun
08. hint of scandal
“The politician's career was ruined by the mere hint of scandal involving his finances.”
noun + of + noun
Real-World Examples
“Beyond Jamie’s welfare, the pair’s love of childhood pets – Frazer’s budgie Sequin, Cait’s iguana Natasha – hints at a softer connection, but their significance isn’t fully explained.” “Its uneven stride hints that the long-necked dinosaur may have been walking with a limp.” “This hints that in sport, negative expectations may have more of an impact than positive ones.” Etymology
From Middle English hinten, hynten, variant of henten (“to lay hold of, catch”), from Old English hentan (“to seize, grasp”), from Proto-West Germanic hantijan, from Proto-Germanic hantijaną. Doublet of hent. Related also to hunt.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/hint
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR