Word
hint
US/ˈhɪnt/
UK/hˈɪnt/
Definitions
01a clue
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.
“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
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.
“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
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
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.”
Technical
Synonyms
05to suggest indirectly
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
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.”
Informal
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
drop a hint — To reveal a clue or hint about something.
Irish hint — A very clear and unsubtle indication.
take the hint — Concede to mounting evidence; wake up and smell the coffee.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/hint