hotter; hottest
1
a
: having a relatively high temperature
hot and humid weather
serving hot meals to the poor
b
: capable of giving a sensation of heat or of burning, searing, or scalding
working outside in the hot sun
fried in hot oil
c
: having heat in a degree exceeding normal body heat
Your forehead feels hot.
2
b(1)
: sexually excited or receptive
It's obvious he's hot for her.
(2)
: sexy
That guy she's dating is really hot.
d
of jazz
: emotionally exciting and marked by strong rhythms and free melodic improvisations
3
: having or causing the sensation of an uncomfortable degree of body heat
hot and tired
it's hot in here
4
a
: newly made : fresh
a hot scent
bread hot from the oven
hot off the press
b
: close to something sought
hot on the trail
5
a
: suggestive of heat or of burning or glowing objects : very bright
hot colors
hot pink
b
of food
: having a component (such as capsaicin) that creates a burning or tingling sensation in the mouth : pungent, peppery
hot mustard
the hottest chili I've ever tasted
see also hot pepper, hot sauce
6
a
: of intense and immediate interest
some hot gossip
b
: unusually lucky or favorable
on a hot streak
c
: temporarily capable of unusual performance (as in a sport)
d
: currently popular or in demand
She's become one of Hollywood's hottest commodities.
a hot item in stores this year
e
: very good
a hot idea
not feeling too hot
f
: absurd, unbelievable
wants to fight the champ? that's a hot one
7
a
: electrically energized especially with high voltage
That wire is hot.
b
: radioactive
hot material
also
: dealing with radioactive material
a hot laboratory
c
of an atom or molecule
: being in an excited state
8
a
: recently and illegally obtained
hot jewels
admitted that the car was hot
b
: wanted by the police
also
: unsafe for a fugitive
made the town too hot for them
9
: fast
a hot new fighter plane
a hot lap around the track
hotness
noun
1
: a period of relatively high temperature : a period of heat
during the hot of the day
2
: one that is hot (such as a hot meal or a horse just after a workout)
3
hots plural
: strong sexual desire
—used with the
has got the hots for the new guy in the office
hotted; hotting; hots
chiefly Southern US, south Midland US, and British
: heat, warm
He took her up her supper, saying, "I've hotted the soup, and I found the chicken."—
Mrs. Henry Dudeney (Alice Louisa Dudenay)
—usually used with upMrs. Henry Dudeney (Alice Louisa Dudenay)hotted up the kettle
… he was sitting by the fire hotting up some of his cider in a saucepan; this he was taking with rosemary to cure his cold.—Fred Archer
see also hot up
Fred ArcherExamples of hot in a Sentence
Adjective
It is hot in the summer and cold in the winter.
The baked potatoes were too hot to handle with our bare hands.
We worked all afternoon in the hot sun.
The chicken was fried in hot oil.
Your forehead feels hot. I think you might have a fever.
I was feeling hot and tired.
a selection of hot beverages
The new toys are so hot that stores can't keep them in stock.
Her new book is a hot seller.
She spoke about the latest hot trends in the computer industry.
Adverb
workers were working hot and heavy to repair the breach in the levee
Noun
It was obvious that they had the hots for each other and their friendship was about to become something more.
Verb
with a silky Southern drawl, the waitress asked, "Want me to hot up that pie?"
Recent Examples on the Web
Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 11 May 2025
Not for nothing, either, but Simone’s interaction with the mystery man who may become a series regular (Grown-ish alum Trevor Jackson) was off-the-charts hot.
—Charlie Mason, TVLine, 10 May 2025
Amanda Peukert, SPIN, 1 Nov. 2024
Krasinski will also serve as a producer, coming hot off the heels of his family fantasy IF, and the continued success of his A Quiet Place franchise.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 30 Oct. 2024
Lizzie Kane, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2025
But in 2028, the Fab Four will become 21st-century hot.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2025
Emma Specter, Vogue, 28 July 2023
So, she hot glued them to a piece of twine and strung it across the ceiling.
—Hadley Keller, House Beautiful, 24 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for hot
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Below, check out today's last-chance gift ideas, snag tickets for this weekend's hottest sporting events and more, all hand-picked by the USA TODAY Shopping team.
—Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 11 May 2025
Not for nothing, either, but Simone’s interaction with the mystery man who may become a series regular (Grown-ish alum Trevor Jackson) was off-the-charts hot.
—Charlie Mason, TVLine, 10 May 2025
Adverb
Every 30 days, expect an array of songs, diverse and delicious, served hot off the flat-top and waiting to be wolfed down.
—Amanda Peukert, SPIN, 1 Nov. 2024
Krasinski will also serve as a producer, coming hot off the heels of his family fantasy IF, and the continued success of his A Quiet Place franchise.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 30 Oct. 2024
Noun
The real estate market in Chicago is hyperlocal, with some neighborhoods such as Lincoln Park and West Town super hot.
—Lizzie Kane, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2025
But in 2028, the Fab Four will become 21st-century hot.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2025
Verb
After another pep talk from Khalil (good friend alert!), Mavis hots herself up and goes in for the meeting, but then refuses to work with Jacque on principle and strides right out.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 28 July 2023
So, she hot glued them to a piece of twine and strung it across the ceiling.
—Hadley Keller, House Beautiful, 24 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for hot
Video
Hot Mess
Our research turned up two archaic literal meanings
Cite this Entry
“Hot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hot. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
hot
adjective
hotter; hottest
1
a
: having a relatively high temperature
b
: capable of giving a sensation of heat or of burning, searing, or scalding
c
: having heat in a degree exceeding normal body heat
2
a
: radioactive
especially
: exhibiting a relatively great amount of radioactivity when subjected to radionuclide scanning
b
: dealing with radioactive material
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