hey

[ hey ]

interjection

1. (used as an exclamation to call attention or to express pleasure, surprise, bewilderment, etc.)
2. Informal. hello: used as a greeting.

hey

/ heɪ /

interjection

1. an expression indicating surprise, dismay, discovery, etc, or calling for another's attention
2. an exclamation used for emphasis at the end of a statement, or alone to seek repetition or confirmation of another person's statement
3. hey presto
   an exclamation used by conjurors to herald the climax of a trick

Word History and Origins

Origin of hey¹

1150–1200; Middle English hei

Word History and Origins

Origin of hey¹

C13: compare Old French hay, German hei, Swedish hej

Example Sentences

Mr Bookman yells, "hey, drop the knife, drop the knife", seconds before firing a shot hitting Mr Durham and sending him and Ms Boudreaux to the ground.

From BBC

The investigator who connected the woman to Williamson “called me right away and said, ‘Hey, this could be a person of interest,’” said Jason Corey, an investigator with the Riverside County D.A.’s office.

From Los Angeles Times

“We’ve had kids that say ‘Hey, you know what?

From Los Angeles Times

“We’re not doing it because no one’s ever picked up the phone and said, ‘Hey, we’re doing this,’ so we’re not doing it,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times

“And then last Friday, when that exact journalist responded and said, ‘Hey, I’m alive b***h,’ that is extremely brat.”

From Salon