hint

1 of 2

noun

ˈhint 

1

a

: a statement that expresses indirectly what one prefers not to say explicitly

had been dropping hints that he would like to be invited

b

: an indirect or general suggestion for how to do or solve something

helpful hints for inexperienced cooks

can't tell you the answer but can give you a hint

2

: a slight indication of the existence, approach, or nature of something : clue

gave only a hint of what was to come

3

: a very small amount : suggestion

with just a hint of spice

4

archaic : opportunity, turn

hint

2 of 2

verb

hinted; hinting; hints

transitive verb

: to convey indirectly and by allusion rather than explicitly

a suspicion that she scarcely dared to hint

intransitive verb

: to give an indirect suggestion or piece of evidence that leads one toward the solution of a problem : to give a hint

—usually used with at

hint at the answer

hinter noun

Synonyms

Noun

• clue
• cue
• indication
• inkling
• intimation
• lead
• suggestion

Verb

• allude
• imply
• indicate
• infer
• insinuate
• intimate
• suggest

Choose the Right Synonym for hint

suggest, imply, hint, intimate, insinuate mean to convey an idea indirectly.

suggest may stress putting into the mind by association of ideas, awakening of a desire, or initiating a train of thought.

a film title that suggests its subject matter

imply is close to suggest but may indicate a more definite or logical relation of the unexpressed idea to the expressed.

measures implying that bankruptcy was imminent

hint implies the use of slight or remote suggestion with a minimum of overt statement.

hinted that she might get the job

intimate stresses delicacy of suggestion without connoting any lack of candor.

intimates that there is more to the situation than meets the eye

insinuate applies to the conveying of a usually unpleasant idea in a sly underhanded manner.

insinuated that there were shady dealings

Examples of hint in a Sentence

Noun

Her face gave me a hint of what she was thinking.

“I have a lot of work to do.” “OK, I'll leave. I can take a hint.”

The sauce has a subtle hint of garlic.

He had a hint of a German accent.

They'll betray you at the first hint of trouble.

Verb

I keep hinting, but she's not catching on. I think I need to be more direct.

The boss hinted about possible layoffs.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

With that gargantuan hint, fans haven’t had much trouble drawing connections to the long-running feud between Swift and Kardashian. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2024

Did anything stand out to you in those last messages, some foreboding, some hint of what was to come? Probably not. —TIME, 17 Apr. 2024

Dijon mustard: Adds a hint of tanginess that balances the rich, cheesy flavor. —Cynthia Graubart, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2024

Complemented by hints of jasmine and violet, Strawberry Letter evolved on my skin to reveal layers of complexity and depth that linger on the skin long after the initial spritz, without smelling overly sweet or syrupy. —Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 12 Apr. 2024

The lasting aftertaste is pleasantly earthy with a hint of fruity sweetness. —Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024

Her blazer and pants had a hint of floral, with a spray of flowers on one shoulder and one pant leg. —Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024

The result is over eight years of autonomy, and perhaps some hints as to how watchmaking can inspire sustainable technology in other fields. —Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2024

The menu notes hints of sweetness and low saltiness. —Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2024

Verb

Netflix has its eye on content creators Hoping to better leverage social media, Netflix appears interested in developing shows and movies with people who have become social media stars, Sarandos hinted during the earnings call. —Rachyl Jones, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2024

In an interview with Tucker Carlson in early February, Putin hinted that Russian and Western spy agencies were working on a swap involving Krasikov, suggesting that he could be traded for Evan Gershkovich, an American journalist held in Russia on baseless charges of espionage. —Simon Shuster / Vilnius, TIME, 17 Apr. 2024

Boston Dynamics hinted towards its commercial plans for the new Atlas in its most recent press release. —Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 17 Apr. 2024

Hill, who sits on the House Intelligence Committee, hinted Sunday that Johnson would likely introduce a version of the supplemental national security package that includes an additional provision to redirect certain frozen Russian assets toward paying for Ukraine’s reconstruction. —Abigail Hauslohner, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024

But when Elon Musk hinted there might be a flying Tesla soon, the internet started buzzing with flying car news. —Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024

The couple recently shared that Eric underwent a vasectomy, hinting that the two are done having kids. —Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024

Their scarcity hints that preservation bias distorts archaeologists’ view of the past: Stone tools persist over the millennia, whereas wood typically decays. —Byandrew Curry, science.org, 1 Apr. 2024

The restaurant also hinted that lunch service will return at the new operation. —Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 9 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

probably alteration of obsolete hent act of seizing, from hent, verb

First Known Use

Noun

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

1648, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing hint

• drop a hint
• get/take the hint
• hint at
• take a hint

Kids Definition

hint

1 of 2 noun

ˈhint 

1

: a slight mention : a suggestion or reminder

a hint of winter in the air

2

: a slight indication of the existence or nature of something : clue

3

: a very small amount : trace

a hint of garlic

hint

2 of 2 verb

: to bring to mind by or give a hint

hinter noun