1
: overall character or appearance to the mind : complexion, aspect
political parties of every hueLouis Wasserman
2
a
: color
all the hues of the rainbow
b
: gradation of color
the hues and shades of twilightColin Clark
c
: the attribute of colors that permits them to be classed as red, yellow, green, blue, or an intermediate between any contiguous pair of these colors
red with an orange hue
compare brightness sense 2, lightness sense 2a, saturation sense 4

Examples of hue in a Sentence

We decorated the room in hues of blue and green. decorated the room in hues of blue and green
Recent Examples on the Web This hue, neither white nor beige, is the perfect neutral to wear with anything from tweeds to navy sport coats, vintage jungle jackets, and chambray shirts. Josh Condon, Robb Report, 7 Sep. 2024 After test-driving the cinnamon-spiced mani, add a deeper chocolate brown hue to the list, with a blunter square shape, slightly rounded off at the edges—a fun nod to our favorite sweet treat. Ranyechi Udemezue, Vogue, 7 Sep. 2024 Its pink, rust, and brown hues influenced the color scheme of the entire apartment. Morgan Goldberg, Architectural Digest, 6 Sep. 2024 Two brands with completely different product lines but the same ethos surrounding comfort and quality have created the ultimate pair of cozy-chic slip-ons: a beloved Birkenstock style in a signature Parachute hue. Erin Lassner, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hue 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hue.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hewe, from Old English hīw; akin to Old Norse plant down, Goth hiwi form

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of hue was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near hue

Cite this Entry

“Hue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hue. Accessed 19 Sep. 2024.

Kids Definition

hue

noun
1
2
: a particular variety of a color : shade
3
: an aspect of colors that allows them to be identified as red, yellow, green, blue, or something between any two of these colors

Medical Definition

hue

noun
: the one of the three psychological dimensions of color perception that permits them to be classified as red, yellow, green, blue, or an intermediate between any contiguous pair of these colors and that is correlated with the wavelength or the combination of wavelengths comprising the stimulus compare brightness, saturation sense 4a

Geographical Definition

Hue

geographical name

ˈ(h)wā How to pronounce Hue (audio)
hü-ˈā,
hyü-ˈā
variants or French Hué
city and port in central Vietnam; formerly capital of Annam population 302,983

More from Merriam-Webster on hue

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!