# hot

/ˈhɑt/ (US) · /hˈɒt/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. high temperature

adjective · CEFR A1

having a high temperature, like the sun or boiling water.

For teachers: having a high temperature; emitting or containing significant thermal energy.

- Be careful with that coffee because the cup is very hot.
- The desert air was so hot that the horizon seemed to shimmer and dissolve in the distance.

### 2. spicy food

adjective · CEFR A2

producing a burning feeling in your mouth from spices like chili.

For teachers: containing spices that produce a burning sensation on the palate; piquant.

- I cannot eat this curry because it is too hot for me.
- The chef warned us that the local peppers were exceptionally hot, even for those accustomed to spicy cuisine.

### 3. popular or trendy

adjective · CEFR B1 · Informal

very popular, new, or successful right now.

For teachers: currently popular, fashionable, or in high demand within a particular market or culture.

- That new video game is the hottest thing on the market this month.
- Investors are flocking to the region as it becomes a hot spot for emerging technology startups.

### 4. physically attractive

adjective · CEFR B1 · Informal · Slang

very sexually attractive.

For teachers: physically or sexually attractive; used to describe a person's appearance.

- Everyone in the office thinks the new manager is really hot.
- The lead actor in the new drama has become a household name, largely because fans find him incredibly hot.

### 5. angry or excited

adjective · CEFR B2

feeling very angry or having strong, excited emotions.

For teachers: characterised by intense emotion, especially anger, passion, or zeal.

- The two players had a hot argument on the field after the foul.
- The debate grew hot as both sides refused to compromise on the environmental regulations.

### 6. active or live

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

turned on and ready to use, like a microphone or a wire with electricity.

For teachers: carrying an electric current, or being in an active state of operation such as a live microphone.

- Don't touch that wire because it might still be hot.
- The engineer warned the crew that the microphone was hot, so they needed to remain silent behind the scenes.

### 7. stolen or illegal

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang

recently stolen and dangerous to have because the police are looking for it.

For teachers: recently stolen and therefore difficult or dangerous to dispose of or possess.

- He tried to sell me a watch, but I suspected it was hot.
- The thieves found it impossible to sell the paintings because the items were too hot for any legitimate dealer to touch.

### 8. to heat up

verb · CEFR B1 · British English · Informal

to make something warm or hot.

For teachers: to increase the temperature of something; often used with 'up'.

- The competition is starting to hot up as we reach the final round.
- As the election approached, the political rhetoric began to hot up, with both candidates launching aggressive advertising campaigns.

Usage: Usually appears as the phrasal verb 'hot up'.

## Examples

- The soup is too hot to eat right now.
- The weather was so hot that we decided to stay inside with the air conditioning.
- While the primary sense refers to thermal energy, the term frequently describes high-intensity situations, such as a hot debate or a market where assets are being traded rapidly.

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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.