hue

noun

ˈhyü 

1

: overall character or appearance to the mind : complexion, aspect

… political parties of every hue …

—Louis Wasserman

2

a

: color

all the hues of the rainbow

b

: gradation of color

… the hues and shades of twilight …

—Colin 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

Synonyms of hue

• shade
• color
• tone
• tint

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

For example, Goldmark hopped on the butter yellow trend earlier this year, releasing a hair towel in the trendy hue in conjunction with the launch of Emi Jay’s Heavenly Hair Milk at $40. —Emily Burns, Footwear News, 26 Nov. 2025

The combination of this easy press-in oat crust, pumpkin filling, and cranberry-compote topping results in gorgeous contrasting autumnal hues of brown, orange, and red. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 25 Nov. 2025

Some likened the hue and shape of the trees to the red cloaks depicted in the television adaptation of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, while others compared them to the sea of blood from The Shining. —Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025

Available in four glossy seasonal hues, this kitchen staple works on every cooktop and is oven safe up to 500 degrees Farenheit, keeping dishes warm from stove to table while looking effortlessly elegant. —Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing hue

• hue and cry

Rhymes for hue

• blew
• blue
• boo
• brew
• chew
• chou
• clue
• coo
• coup
• crew
• cue
• dew

Kids Definition

hue

noun

ˈhyü 

1

: color sense 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

ˈhyü 

: 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 

hü-ˈā, 

hyü-ˈā

variants or French Hué

city and port in central Vietnam; formerly capital of Annam population 302,983