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

Derived Forms

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

Other Words From

• hinter noun
• un·hinted adjective

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of hint¹

C17: of uncertain origin

Idioms and Phrases

see take a hint .

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.

Example Sentences

Ukrainian leaders had hinted that they hoped the incursion would force Moscow to redirect some of its forces from eastern Ukraine, slowing the Russian advance there.

From BBC

His warm smile gave no hint of the hard times he faced in Miami’s rough Liberty City neighborhood.

From Los Angeles Times

That threat ultimately fizzled, but it could hint at how his administration might try to pressure California.

From Los Angeles Times

This was widely interpreted as another less-than-subtle hint to America and Europe not to allow Ukraine to strike Russian territory with long-range missiles.

From BBC

The selection of Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel is already a hint that faith might shape some foreign policy.

From BBC

Related Words

• advise
• allude to
• broach
• imply
• inform
• mention
• refer to
• remind
• touch on

More About Hint

What does hint mean?

A hint is an indirect, disguised, or helpful suggestion. In other words, it’s a clue, as in Can you just give me a hint about what my birthday present is?

A hint that suggests something can be planned or unplanned, and it can even be hidden using language that only some parties may understand. A hint is usually something you see, hear, or read.

Hint can also mean a slightly noticeable amount of, such as with a taste or a smell, as in I taste a hint of fennel in this sausage.

To hint means to give a hint, as in Our teacher hinted that we might not have to take a final exam, but they wouldn’t say for sure.

To hint also means to imply something rather than stating it directly, as in The ending hinted at a sequel coming but never said it outright.

Example: I’ll never figure out the puzzle if you don’t give me a hint.

Where does hint come from?

The first records of the term hint come from around the 1500s. It is believed to come from the Old English henten, meaning “to grasp” or “to take.” This Old English term is the root for the obsolete term hent, meaning “the act of seizing.” A hint is an opportunity for one to take or seize meaning from.

 

In order for a hint to be a hint, the person receiving the hint must be able to understand the hinter’s meaning without any additional information. For example, leading someone to discover a conclusion by giving them more information is not a hint, whereas telling them something that strongly implies that conclusion is a hint.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to hint?

• hinter (noun)
• unhinted (adjective)

What are some synonyms for hint?

• advice
• clue
• inkling
• imply
• remind

What are some words that share a root or word element with hint?

• hent

What are some words that often get used in discussing hint?

• coy
• evidence
• scent
• spice

How is hint used in real life?

Hints are commonly given when someone wants to interest other people in what they’re hinting at.

love u so much i'm so excited i wanna show u something but brb (it's kind of a hint to thursday's announcement!!!!)

— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) November 12, 2014

I want you to ~decipher~ my emoji paragraphs but lemme give you a little hint: they all end in bashful monkey.

— Cole M. Sprouse (@colesprouse) April 24, 2017

Haven't had a photoshoot in a while…..hint hint

— Matthew Espinosa (@MatthewEspinosa) April 1, 2014

Try using hint!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for hint?

A. suggest
B. deny
C. mention
D. imply