hay

1 of 2

noun

ˈhā 

1

: herbage and especially grass mowed and cured for fodder

2

: reward

3

slang : bed

4

: a small sum of money

a saving of … $14 million is not hay

—H. C. Schonberg

hay

2 of 2

verb

hayed; haying; hays

intransitive verb

: to cut, cure, and store hay

transitive verb

: to feed with hay

Synonyms

Noun

• dime
• peanuts

Examples of hay in a Sentence

Noun

their credit card debt isn't hay—it'll take years to pay it off

dragging myself out of the hay on such a cold, dreary morning seemed like an act of sheer masochism

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Her sultry photo shoot for the movie The Outlaw—lying on a stack of hay, holding a gun, blouse straps at her shoulders, revealing just enough—led to a censorship battle. —Seth Wickersham, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2025

Video of the zoo bringing in a front-loader filled with hay to give Ruth the support needed to get back on her feet went viral. —Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025

Verb

Three Kings Day, normally celebrated Jan. 6, is loaded with customs such as leaving grass or hay out for the three wise men in exchange for a gift. —Rick Barrett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2022

The holiday is loaded with customs such as leaving grass or hay out for the three kings in exchange for a gift. —Gabriela Miranda, USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English hey, from Old English hīeg; akin to Old High German hewi hay, Old English hēawan to hew

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

1535, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing hay

• ain't hay
• a roll in the hay
• hay fever
• hay field
• hay-scented fern
• hit the hay
• make hay

Rhymes for hay

• ay
• bay
• bey
• brae
• cay
• chez
• dey
• dray
• fay
• fey
• flay
• fray

Kids Definition

hay

1 of 2 noun

ˈhā 

: herbs (as grasses) cut and dried for use as fodder

hay

2 of 2 verb

1

: to cut, cure, and store plants for hay

2

: to feed with hay

Geographical Definition

Hay

geographical name

ˈhā 

river 530 miles (853 kilometers) long in northern Alberta and the southern Northwest Territories, Canada, flowing northeast into Great Slave Lake

Biographical Definition

Hay

biographical name

ˈhā 

John Milton 1838–1905 American statesman