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

Highlighting the bespoke hue are 944 Cobalt Blue Metallic, Altacama Yellow, and GTS Red accents. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 9 June 2026

If the tile goes mid-way up the wall, the designer recommends choosing a paint color that enhances the tile’s color, either a similar hue or a complementary tone. —Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 June 2026

Among many other famous names, rapper and songwriter Megan Thee Stallion also made an appearance, as did Neil Patrick Harris, a prior Tonys host of lesser hue but with superior comic chops. —Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026

The reddish hues come from hot hydrogen and the bright blue from hot oxygen, which are typically the gases most abundantly produced by planetary nebulae. —Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 8 June 2026

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