Advertisement

View synonyms for hint

hint

[ hint ]

noun

  1. an indirect, covert, or helpful suggestion; clue:

    Give me a hint as to his identity.

    Synonyms: inkling, reminder, memorandum, innuendo, insinuation, allusion

  2. a very slight or hardly noticeable amount; soupçon:

    a hint of garlic in the salad dressing.

  3. perceived indication or suggestion; note; intimation:

    a hint of spring in the air.

  4. Obsolete. an occasion or opportunity.


verb (used with object)

  1. to give a hint of:

    gray skies hinting a possible snowfall.

    Synonyms: imply

    Antonyms: declare, express

verb (used without object)

  1. to make indirect suggestion or allusion; subtly imply (usually followed by at ):

    The article hinted at corruption in the mayor's office.

hint

/ hɪnt /

noun

  1. a suggestion or implication given in an indirect or subtle manner

    he dropped a hint

  2. a helpful piece of advice or practical suggestion
  3. a small amount; trace


verb

  1. whenintr, often foll by at; when tr, takes a clause as object to suggest or imply indirectly

Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈhinting, noun
  • ˈhintingly, adverb
  • ˈhinter, noun

Discover More

Other Words From

  • hinter noun
  • un·hinted adjective

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of hint1

First recorded in 1595–1605; (noun) originally, “opportunity, occasion,” apparently variant of obsolete hent “grasp, act of seizing,” derivative of the verb: “to grasp, take,” Middle English henten, Old English hentan; (verb) derivative of the noun

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of hint1

C17: of uncertain origin

Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

see take a hint .

Discover More

Synonym Study

Hint, intimate, insinuate, suggest denote the conveying of an idea to the mind indirectly or without full or explicit statement. To hint is to convey an idea covertly or indirectly, but intelligibly: to hint that one would like a certain present; to hint that bits of gossip might be true. To intimate is to give a barely perceptible hint, often with the purpose of influencing action: to intimate that something may be possible. To insinuate is to hint artfully, often at what one would not dare to say directly: to insinuate something against someone's reputation. Suggest denotes particularly recalling something to the mind or starting a new train of thought by means of association of ideas: The name doesn't suggest anything to me.

Discover More

Example Sentences

We later learned that she had left him and was hoping he would catch the hint.

There was no sign of a struggle, and no hint of marital dispute or financial problems.

Wahlberg chimes in with the hint of a smirk: “The hard days of digging ditches!”

Animals in agony or danger are used by Martin Wittfooth, often to hint at the future of the human condition.

The woman is not looking into the camera, but there is a hint of a smile.

And it might be a good idea for you to give your men a gentle hint to keep their mouths closed about this affair—all of it.

She noiselessly takes the hint, and enters the corridor; Phœbe advances to answer his challenge.

"You will have to get over that feeling," observed Mr. Carr, disregarding the hint, and taking out his probing-knife.

The hint was not neglected, for this kind of hunting is much more sure than that of the woods.

On hearing this, the Earl of Gloucester at once sent Bruce a broad hint in the form of twelve pence and a pair of spurs.

Advertisement

Word of the Day

inveterate

[in-vet-er-it ]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


Hinshelwoodhinterland