hire

noun \ ˈhī(-ə)r \

Updated on: 22 May 2018

Definition of hire

1 a : payment for the temporary use of something

b : payment for labor or personal services : wages

2 a : the act or an instance of hiring (see ²hire)

laws regarding the hire of workers

b : the state of being hired : employment

3 British : rental

the hire of equipment

—often used attributively

a hire car

4 : one who is hired

starting wage for the new hires

— for hire or less commonly on hire

: available for use or service in return for payment

They have boats for hire.

willing to do farm work for hire

See hire defined for English-language learners

See hire defined for kids

Examples of hire in a Sentence

The company has a few new hires.
The hire of a car and other equipment will of course incur a supplementary charge.

Recent Examples of hire from the Web

Two years after a Florida State University law professor was gunned down outside his home, authorities have arrested three South Florida people in the case authorities say was a murder-for-hire plot.

— johnny diaz, Sun-Sentinel.com, "The murder of FSU professor Dan Markel focus of NBC 'Dateline'," 13 Apr. 2018
Courier Journal's Jeff Greer and Chris White update the University of Louisville men's basketball coach hire.

— fletcher page, The Courier-Journal, "E.J. Montgomery's basketball-obsessed family helps explain offers from Duke, UNC and UK," 3 Apr. 2018
Jeff Greer updates the latest on the University of Louisville men's basketball coach hire.

— dave clark, Cincinnati.com, "Dartmouth grad transfer Boudreaux, former Xavier commit, chooses Purdue," 29 Mar. 2018
The Sugar Land man at the center of the debate was convicted of masterminding a 2003 murder-for-hire plot apparently aimed at scoring a hefty $1 million inheritance.

— keri blakinger, Houston Chronicle, "'Will this apply to everybody?': Legal community reacts to rare death row commutation," 3 Mar. 2018
Walley's hire date with the Mobile Police Department was March 2016, according to the release.

— christopher harress, AL.com, "Mobile police officer charged with child abuse," 12 Feb. 2018
Depending on the hire date, training can range from 24 to 40 hours.

— chris sims, Indianapolis Star, "How Indiana University students can work at home for Apple," 16 Jan. 2018
The hire created much excitement and interest in the program.

— mark stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Steve Showalter says difference in coaching philosophy led to his departure," 27 Apr. 2018
Rice confirmed the hire of his former Mountain West Conference rival in a text message to the Idaho Statesman on Tuesday.

— rachel roberts, idahostatesman, "Former Mountain West rival joining Boise State coaching staff," 24 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hire.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of hire

Middle English, from Old English hȳr; akin to Old Saxon hūria hire

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

hire Synonyms

hire

verb

Definition of hire

hired; hiring

transitive verb

1 a : to engage the personal services of for a set sum

hire a crew

b : to engage the temporary use of for a fixed sum

hire a hall

2 : to grant the personal services of or temporary use of for a fixed sum

hire themselves out

3 : to get done for pay

hire the mowing done

intransitive verb

: to take employment

hire out as a guide during the tourist season

—

hirer

noun

See hire defined for English-language learners

Examples of hire in a Sentence

She had very little office experience, so the company wouldn't hire her.
We hired someone to clean the office once a week.
The company isn't hiring right now.

Recent Examples of hire from the Web

The former Michigan governor was hired as interim leader after Lou Anna Simon’s sudden resignation in January.

— Washington Post, "$500M settlement in Nassar case won’t be shared equally," 17 May 2018
Tomczyk was hired last year as an associate principal.

— alec johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Kettle Moraine School District adds associate principal position, activities director," 17 May 2018
Meanwhile, former executives and consultants from those for-profit institutions have been hired as top advisers to the Education Department under DeVos.

— katie reilly, Time, "Student Who Took on ‘Crushing’ Debt Angry After Betsy DeVos Scales Back Investigations of For-Profit Colleges," 17 May 2018
Washington was hired by the district in January 2017, said CFISD spokesperson Joel Weckerly.

— mayra cruz, Houston Chronicle, "Former Cy-Fair ISD teacher accused of improper relationship with student," 17 May 2018
She was hired as vice principal 31 years ago but became principal after a year.

— daniel langhorne, latimes.com, "Principal and vice principal at Our Lady Queen of Angels will retire next month," 17 May 2018
Seann William Scott was hired to replace Crawford as Riggs’ brother, according to Variety.

— jodi guglielmi, PEOPLE.com, "Lethal Weapon Guest-Star Defends Clayne Crawford After Firing: 'No One Is Perfect'," 17 May 2018
He was later hired to retouch photos as a photography assistant.

— mike scott, NOLA.com, "He ran out of money in New Orleans. So he stayed. And became great.," 17 May 2018
In 2016, husband-and-wife design team James Veal and Christine Stucker of Stewart-Schafer were hired by a young couple to make it into their home.

— wendy goodman, The Cut, "The Old Bread Factory," 17 May 2018

Origin and Etymology of hire

see ¹hire

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

hire Synonyms

Synonyms

assume, employ, engage, pay, place, recruit, retain, sign (up or on), take on;

Antonyms

ax (or axe), can, discharge, dismiss, fire, sack;

Near Antonyms

furlough, lay off, lock out;

Related Words

reemploy, reengage, rehire;

apprentice, contract, job, partner, subcontract;

enlist;

advance, promote, upgrade;

keep (on);

headhunt, scout;

Synonym Discussion of hire

hire, let, lease, rent, charter mean to engage or grant for use at a price. hire and let, strictly speaking, are complementary terms, hire implying the act of engaging or taking for use and let the granting of use.

- we hired a car for the summer
- decided to let the cottage to a young couple

lease strictly implies a letting under the terms of a contract but is often applied to hiring on a lease.

- the diplomat leased an apartment for a year

rent stresses the payment of money for the full use of property and may imply either hiring or letting.

- instead of buying a house, they decided to rent
- will not rent to families with children

charter applies to the hiring or letting of a vehicle usually for exclusive use.

- charter a bus to go to the game

HIRE Defined for English Language Learners

hire

noun

Definition of hire for English Language Learners

: someone who has been hired for a job

hire

verb

Definition of hire for English Language Learners

: to give work or a job to (someone) in exchange for wages or a salary
: to use or get the services of (someone) to do a particular job
: to pay to use (something)

HIRE Defined for Kids

hire

verb \ ˈhīr \

Definition of hire for Students

hired; hiring

1 : ¹employ 1

The company hired new workers.

2 : to get the temporary use of in return for pay

They hired a hall for the party.

3 : to take a job

He hired out as a cook.

Law Dictionary

hire

noun

legal Definition of hire

1 : payment for the temporary use of something or for labor or services

2 a : the act or an instance of hiring

from the date of hire until now

b : the state of being hired : employment

while he was in the hire of the defendant

3 : one who is hired

all new hires will enjoy the same medical benefits

— for hire

: available for use or service in return for payment

hire

verb

legal Definition of hire

hired; hiring

transitive verb

1 : to engage the personal services of or the temporary use of for a fixed sum

2 : to grant the personal services of or the temporary use of

intransitive verb

: to take employment

—

hirer

noun

Learn More about hire

See words that rhyme with hire Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hire Spanish Central: Translation of hire Nglish: Translation of hire for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of hire for Arabic speakers

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hire

Definition of hire

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Origin and Etymology of hire

hire Synonyms

Synonyms

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Near Antonyms

Related Words

hire

Definition of hire

hirer

Examples of hire in a Sentence

Recent Examples of hire from the Web

Origin and Etymology of hire

hire Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Synonym Discussion of hire

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HIRE Defined for English Language Learners

hire

Definition of hire for English Language Learners

hire

Definition of hire for English Language Learners

HIRE Defined for Kids

hire

Definition of hire for Students

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legal Definition of hire

hire

legal Definition of hire

hirer

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