hence
Americanadverb
-
as an inference from this fact; for this reason; therefore.
The eggs were very fresh and hence satisfactory.
-
from this time; from now.
They will leave a month hence.
-
from this source or origin.
-
Archaic.
-
from this place; from here; away.
The inn is but a quarter mile hence.
-
from this world or from the living.
After a long, hard life they were taken hence.
-
henceforth; from this time on.
-
interjection
adverb
-
from this time
a year hence
-
archaic
-
from here or from this world; away
-
from this origin or source
-
interjection
Etymology
Origin of hence
First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English hens, hennes, equivalent to henne ( Old English heonan ) + -es adverb suffix; see -s 1
Explanation
Hence means "for this reason," or "therefore." One Hollywood starlet is a huge fan of tiny dogs, hence the Pomeranian puppy peeking out of her purse. Hence not only means "therefore." It can also mean forward from this time. Nine months hence, a baby that has just been conceived will enter the world kicking and screaming. These days, you're more likely to hear the word hence in a movie set a hundred years ago than in casual conversation because it has a very old-fashioned ring to it.
Vocabulary lists containing hence
"The Road Not Taken"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Tolkien Reading Day, List 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
We Dream of Space
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They have a fixed amount of shares in circulation — hence they are closed-ended, as opposed to “open-ended” mutual funds and ETFs.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 12, 2026
Given the uncertainty around when the conflict will end and hence the scale of its impact, the central bank is likely to keep interest rates steady when it announces its decision later this week.
From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026
But the DWP's own advisers say ministers have not done enough to reassure claimants, including those described as having "fluctuating" conditions, that "undertaking work‑related activities might lead to reassessment", and hence lower benefit awards.
From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026
The latter aren’t presidential appointees and hence are beyond Mr. Trump’s reach.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026
Twenty years later, he raised his estimate of Indian deaths—and hence of the initial population—to forty million.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
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.
