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

• ˈhinting, noun
• ˈhintingly, adverb
• ˈhinter, 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

While convalescent plasma appears safe, and there are hints that it may help people in early stages of the disease, not enough data have been amassed to say that the treatment is effective, some experts warn.

From Science News

A hint at what spurs such slayings lies in the hyenas’ ranks.

From Science News

Cook and other executives have dropped hints that Apple wants make a big splash in the field of augmented reality, which uses phone screens or high-tech eyewear to paint digital images into the real world.

From Fortune

To an optimist, any hint of success means that there must be a pony in here somewhere.

From MIT Technology Review

Raptors coach Nick Nurse teased reporters the day before the game with hints of a mystery defense, and what he unveiled was pretty unusual indeed.

From FiveThirtyEight

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

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