1
: precipitation in the form of small balls or lumps usually consisting of concentric layers of clear ice and compact snow
2
: something that gives the effect of a shower of hail
a hail of rifle fire
hailed; hailing; hails
1
: to precipitate hail (see hail entry 1)
it was hailing hard
2
: to pour down or strike like hail
Bullets were hailing down on them.
hailed; hailing; hails
1
2
: to greet or summon by calling
hail a taxi
: to call out
especially
: to call a greeting to a passing ship
1
—used to express acclamation
hail to the chief—
Sir Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott2
archaic
—used as a salutation
1
: an exclamation of greeting or acclamation
greeted the emperor with a hail
2
: a calling to attract attention
3
: hearing distance
stayed within hail
Synonyms
Examples of hail in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebAndrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2024
Israel on Sunday hailed its air defenses in the face of an unprecedented attack by Iran, saying the systems thwarted 99% of the more than 300 drones and missiles launched toward its territory.
—Tia Goldenberg, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Apr. 2024
Environmental groups hailed the rule change as a way to ensure accountability from energy companies that have long had cheap access to federal lands.
—Matthew Daly, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2024
State media hailed the phone as a triumph for China’s tech industry.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune Asia, 12 Apr. 2024
Roberts hails from Alabama and California, and released her debut studio project, Bad Girl Bible, Vol. 1, in 2023 on ReynaRed Records/EMPIRE.
—Xander Zellner, Billboard, 9 Apr. 2024
While this isn’t an official release from Swift’s camp, the book does hail from publishers Penguin Workshop, whose best-selling Who Was?
—Tim Chan, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024
At the time, the 2016 law was hailed as an important bipartisan reform to close a glaring loophole in the Kansas Open Records Act.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
During the mid-60s, Sinclair met the members of the MC5, who hailed from the Detroit suburb of Lincoln Park.
—Gary Graff, Billboard, 2 Apr. 2024
Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Apr. 2024
The primary threats are damaging winds of 15-25 mph with gusts of 30-35 and large hail.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 17 Apr. 2024
The white region below 10,000 feet represents the dense curtain of hail falling out of the storm.
—Dan Stillman, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024
Early last week, threats of large hail and even possible tornadoes pressured event organizers in Texas communities large and small to make decisions on whether to continue with their plans for the total solar eclipse or cancel.
—David Montesino, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Apr. 2024
There were more than 90 storm reports Tuesday, including reports of hail as large as 4.25 inches in diameter across Texas.
—Phil Helsel, NBC News, 10 Apr. 2024
Much of the state has been experiencing severe weather starting Tuesday, bringing threats of hail, damaging wind and tornadoes.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
Continuing storms are forecast to unleash flooding, damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes Tuesday through Thursday, threatening tens of millions of Americans from eastern Texas to the Southeast coast.
—Christina Maxouris, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
Some of the heavier storms can produce flooding, hail, and brief strong wind gusts.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
Verb
About 10% of those patients hail from outside California.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2024
Israel on Sunday hailed its air defenses in the face of an unprecedented attack by Iran, saying the systems thwarted 99% of the more than 300 drones and missiles launched toward its territory.
—Tia Goldenberg, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Apr. 2024
Environmental groups hailed the rule change as a way to ensure accountability from energy companies that have long had cheap access to federal lands.
—Matthew Daly, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2024
State media hailed the phone as a triumph for China’s tech industry.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune Asia, 12 Apr. 2024
Roberts hails from Alabama and California, and released her debut studio project, Bad Girl Bible, Vol. 1, in 2023 on ReynaRed Records/EMPIRE.
—Xander Zellner, Billboard, 9 Apr. 2024
While this isn’t an official release from Swift’s camp, the book does hail from publishers Penguin Workshop, whose best-selling Who Was?
—Tim Chan, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024
At the time, the 2016 law was hailed as an important bipartisan reform to close a glaring loophole in the Kansas Open Records Act.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
During the mid-60s, Sinclair met the members of the MC5, who hailed from the Detroit suburb of Lincoln Park.
—Gary Graff, Billboard, 2 Apr. 2024
Noun
Stay weather aware With the potential risk for lightning, hail and tornadoes, be sure to check your local forecast to keep tabs on the weather.
—Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Apr. 2024
The primary threats are damaging winds of 15-25 mph with gusts of 30-35 and large hail.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 17 Apr. 2024
The white region below 10,000 feet represents the dense curtain of hail falling out of the storm.
—Dan Stillman, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024
Early last week, threats of large hail and even possible tornadoes pressured event organizers in Texas communities large and small to make decisions on whether to continue with their plans for the total solar eclipse or cancel.
—David Montesino, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Apr. 2024
There were more than 90 storm reports Tuesday, including reports of hail as large as 4.25 inches in diameter across Texas.
—Phil Helsel, NBC News, 10 Apr. 2024
Much of the state has been experiencing severe weather starting Tuesday, bringing threats of hail, damaging wind and tornadoes.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
Continuing storms are forecast to unleash flooding, damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes Tuesday through Thursday, threatening tens of millions of Americans from eastern Texas to the Southeast coast.
—Christina Maxouris, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
Some of the heavier storms can produce flooding, hail, and brief strong wind gusts.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hail.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to hail
Dictionary Entries Near hail
Cite this Entry
“Hail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hail. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hail
1 of 5 noun1
: small lumps of ice that fall from clouds sometimes during thunderstorms
2
: something that gives the effect of falling hail
a hail of bullets
hail
2 of 5 verb1
: to fall as hail
2
: to pour down like hail
hail
3 of 5 interjection1
—used to express enthusiastic approval
2
archaic
—used as a greeting
hail
4 of 5 verb1
a
b
: to greet with enthusiastic approval : acclaim
hailed them as heroes
2
: to summon by calling
hail a taxi
3
: to call out to
hail a passing ship
hail
5 of 5 noun1
: an act or instance of hailing
2
: hearing distance
stayed within hail
Etymology
Noun
Old English hægl "lumps of ice, hail"
Interjection
Middle English hail (an interjection of approval or greeting), derived from early Norse heill "healthy" — related to hale entry 1, wassail
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