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

• cast
• color
• shade
• tincture
• tinge
• tint
• tone

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

In another design juxtaposition, the palette combines pale white and cream hues with bold pops of burgundy and bronze. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2024

Annatto, which comes from the seeds of the achiote tree, offers a sweet, peppery note and a sunshine-like hue. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2024

Each hue is on sale for up to 50 percent off at Amazon — but only for a limited time. —Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2024

Chopard Happy Sport Baby blue seems to be the hue for women’s watches this year, and Chopard’s new Happy Sport is a delicious example. —Sarah Royce-Greensill, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024

Makeup by Mario's viral Master Mattes palette has different hues of beige, brown, and pink, along with bolder tones like charcoal and black. —Andrea Navarro, Glamour, 8 Apr. 2024

This campaign is filled with vibrance in hues of orange with Richardson wearing a pair of crisp white AirMaxes that are runner-ready. —Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 8 Apr. 2024

The posts the singer has been sharing on her Close Friends outlet have included fuzzy fragments of artwork, most of them awash in blue hues. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 5 Apr. 2024

The flowy style comes in three classic hues, including red, white, and black, and the A-line silhouette feels timeless. —Megan Schaltegger, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2024

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

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