hat

1 of 2

noun

ˈhat 

1

: a covering for the head usually having a shaped crown and brim

2

a

: a distinctive head covering worn as a symbol of office

b

: an office, position, or role assumed by or as if by the wearing of a special hat

wore many hats in her career

hatless

ˈhat-ləs 

adjective

hat

2 of 2

verb

hatted; hatting

transitive verb

: to furnish or provide with a hat

intransitive verb

: to make or supply hats

Phrases

under one's hat

: not disclosed

kept the news under his hat

hats off to

—used to give praise or credit

Hats off to the team for a hard-fought game.

Synonyms of hat

Noun

• cap
• helmet
• chapeau
• headdress
• hood
• headgear

Examples of hat in a Sentence

Noun

in those days, no properly dressed person left home without a hat

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The memorable scene of Elphaba flying with her broomstick dressed in her classic hat and cloak has been lauded, marketed, and mocked in popular culture over the past year. —Time, 21 Nov. 2025

But Adebayo insists his hat choice was simply a funny coincidence. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 21 Nov. 2025

Verb

Other memorabilia includes Dawson’s flannel shirt worn throughout the TV series and the the cleats and West Canaan Coyotes hat the actor used in 1999’s Varsity Blues. —Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 12 Nov. 2025

Branco made the appointment with double hatted Nathalie Toulza Madar, who is CEO of TF1 Group’s TF1 Films Production and CEO Cinema at Studio TF1. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 16 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hæt; akin to Old High German huot head covering — more at hood entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing hat

• at the drop of a hat
• black hat
• brass hat
• bucket hat
• coat-check/hat-check girl
• cocked hat
• cowboy hat
• doff one's hat to
• flat-hat
• hang one's hat
• hang one's hat on
• hard hat
• hat in hand
• hat trick
• high hat
• hi-hat
• I'll eat my hat
• into a cocked hat
• keep (something) under one's hat
• old hat
• opera hat
• panama hat
• pass the hat
• picture hat
• plug hat
• porkpie hat
• pot hat
• shovel hat
• silk hat
• slouch hat
• straw hat
• sun hat
• take one's hat off to
• talk through one's hat
• ten-gallon hat
• throw one's hat in the ring
• throw/toss one's hat in/into the ring
• tin hat
• tip one's cap/hat
• top hat
• trucker hat
• white hat

Rhymes for hat

• at
• bat
• batt
• brat
• cat
• chat
• fat
• flat
• gat
• gnat
• kat
• mat

Kids Definition

hat

noun

ˈhat

1

: a covering for the head usually having a shaped crown and brim

2

a

: a distinctive head covering worn as a symbol of office

b

: an office, position, or role assumed as if by the wearing of a special hat

wears many hats in her job