hyperlink

American  

[hahy-per-lingk] / ˈhaɪ pərˌlɪŋk /

noun

hyperlinks plural

1. link.

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verb (used with object)

1. to create digital connections between web pages or between elements on web pages using hypertext, or to have such links on or to a web page or electronic document.

   an extensively hyperlinked document.

verb (used without object)

1. to have, establish, or follow a connection from one web page or one object to another: I want to hyperlink from the table of contents to the specific articles in the newsletter.

   The app hyperlinks to content from social media feeds.

   I want to hyperlink from the table of contents to the specific articles in the newsletter.

   From their web page, you can hyperlink to employment sites.

hyperlink British  

/ ˈhaɪpəˌlɪŋk /

noun

1. a word, phrase, picture, icon, etc, in a computer document on which a user may click to move to another part of the document or to another document

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verb

1. (tr) to link (files) in this way

hyperlink Scientific  

/ hī′pər-lĭngk′ /

1. See link

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hyperlink Cultural  

1. A way of connecting different Web pages together on the Internet. A hyperlink is a word or graphic display on one Web page that allows a computer to shift to another related Web page. Also called a link.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• hyperlinks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of hyperlink

First recorded in 1990–95; hyper- ( def. ) + link ¹ (in the computer sense)

Explanation

A hyperlink is a bit of text on a web site that takes you to another site when you click on it. Most hyperlinks are highlighted in a different color from the surrounding text. In computing, hyperlinks are hidden bits of code that take you from one location to another. You can usually hover over a hyperlink and see its address, and often your cursor changes from an arrow to a pointing finger. When you click on a hyperlink, it opens a new site or file in your existing window, or in a new window or tab. The idea of hyperlinks has been around since the 1960s, with the word being coined in 1987.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hyperlink hyperlinks

The message shows familiarity with your résumé, and it bears the signature of a real recruiter—complete with a hyperlink to a legitimate LinkedIn profile.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 2026

Players occasionally receive tips via an in-game mail service, leading to a hyperlink or message board that kick-starts an investigation.

From New York Times ● Feb. 5, 2024

A hyperlink popped up that said “women botanists,” and I was curious, so I clicked on it.

From Scientific American ● Jun. 5, 2023

It’s a story Pullapilly came across on a coupon blog: “We started on the FBI blog and went on a hyperlink spiral,” she says.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2021

A hyperlink has also been provided, linking each of these games to its PGN format.

From The Blue Book of Chess Teaching the Rudiments of the Game, and Giving an Analysis of All the Recognized Openings by Staunton, Howard

Again, it’s as simple as typing: “Write a script that takes all the hyperlinks in this Word doc, and converts them to footnotes.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 16, 2026

My idea of being extra nice and helpful around the holidays was mocking up a digital version of the wishlist, complete with hyperlinks, in case that made shopping any easier.

From Salon ● Dec. 3, 2025

Nevertheless, his account of how he realized that layering hyperlinks could “connect everyone” and why he chose to keep his source code open to the public is truly fascinating.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2025

Every phrase and image are potential memes and hyperlinks.

From New York Times ● Mar. 31, 2024

Some authors began searching how using hyperlinks could expand their writing towards new directions, creating hypermedia novels and sites of hyperfiction, while mixing text, image and sound.

From The eBook is 40 (1971-2011) by Lebert, Marie