Skip to content
HOW TO PRONOUNCE

hint

/hɪnt/

Press play to hear how to pronounce hint.

American Pronunciation Guide · 0:47
Watch on YouTube ↗

What does hint mean?

noun

  1. A clue.
  2. An implicit suggestion that avoids a direct statement.
  3. A small, barely detectable amount.
More meanings (8)

noun

  1. Information in a computer-based font that suggests how the outlines of the font's glyphs should be distorted in order to produce, at specific sizes, a visually appealing pixel-based rendering; an instance of hinting.
  2. An instruction to the database engine as to how a query should be executed, for example whether to use an index or not.
  3. (obsolete) An opportunity; occasion; fit time.

verb

  1. To imply without a direct statement; to provide a clue.
  2. To bring to mind by a slight mention or remote allusion; to suggest in an indirect manner.
  3. To develop and add hints to a font.
  4. To give (a person) a hint; to tip off.

interjection

  1. Signifies that something previously said should be taken as a hint or heeded closely.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/hɪnt/

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

He must have known only too well that she was going, but of that he had been careful to drop no hint.
Harold FredericThe Damnation of Theron WareProject Gutenberg ebook #133
“You will not give any hint of the plan to Fred, until you are sure that Bulstrode would agree to the plan?”
George EliotMiddlemarchProject Gutenberg ebook #145
More book examples (3)
Consideration for poor Lady Verinder forbade me even to hint that I had guessed the melancholy truth, before she opened her lips.
Wilkie CollinsThe MoonstoneProject Gutenberg ebook #155
This hint was enough to repress talking, though, of course, it did not disturb the credit of the story in the least.
Harriet Beecher StoweUncle Tom's CabinProject Gutenberg ebook #203
The transparency and ingenuousness, in a way, of that delusion, the airy tone, the hint of already growing pride, were perfectly delicious.
Joseph ConradThe Mirror of the SeaProject Gutenberg ebook #1058