hence

adverb

ˈhen(t)s How to pronounce hence (audio)
Definition of hencenext
1
as in therefore
for this or that reason an endangered orchid species, hence illegal to pick

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in away
from this or that place the exorcist commanded, "Get thee hence, Satan!"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hence But these changes won’t all be in sync, so there’s no ticking clock that applies to them all at any instant — hence, pseudo-time. — Quanta Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026 Competitors use street-legal manufacturer vehicles – hence MINI’s launch of a new rally-ready version. — New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2026 Things are going well over at WSM, hence the price performance. — Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026 The course Chicago has one of the flattest — and hence fastest — marathons in the world. — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hence
  1. therefore
  2. away
  3. so
  4. down
  5. thus
  6. out
  7. consequently
  8. off
Adverb
  • The rationale, according to the officials familiar with the conversation, was that continuing assistance to Gaza’s civilians gave Hamas something to lose and therefore gave Israel a measure of leverage over the group.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Nearly two-thirds of young households therefore did not own an asset that accounted for a substantial share of homeowners’ wealth.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of therefore
Adverb
  • The famed stage actor, who performed late into his life, didn’t shy away from challenging roles.
    — Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • YouTube Europe boss Pedro Pina, a fixture at these events, reminded producers that the platform won’t take work away from them by entering the production game.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of away
Adverb
  • Is there a future for the kinds of musical deja vu the Avalanches are so adept at evoking?
    — Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The state had planned to phase in its school-funding formula over several years, so the $700 million gap can’t simply be blamed on EdChoice.
    — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of so
Adverb
  • Shares of Netflix are down 20% year-to-date on fears the streamer’s days of double-digit gains are coming to an end.
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • According to CrowdStrike’s 2026 Global Threat Report, the average breakout time from initial access to lateral movement is 29 minutes, down 65% from 2024.
    — Asaf Wiener, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of down
Adverb
  • NBCUniversal is a logical target, given that the company will be spun out from Comcast next year and thus would make for a much smaller and more manageable acquisition than the entirety of Comcast.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Cash reserves totaling $ 7,450,869 are being used to eviscerate his opponent with a vicious barrage of ad hominem assaults, thus giving him a 61 to 1 spending edge.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of thus
Adverb
  • Thanks to their actions, their teacher survived, and is one of approximately 350,000 Americans who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year.
    — Meng Yang, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The other 20 developers, out there, this would open gate over here.
    — Annette Beard, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of out
Adverb
  • As the midterm campaign enters its home stretch, Americans’ expenses are rising — and the GOP’s prospects are consequently dimming.
    — Eric Levitz, Vox, 15 Oct. 2026
  • From the Houthis’ perspective, their sovereignty consequently remained incomplete.
    — Laurent Bonnefoy, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of consequently
Adverb
  • Searching for Wendy in the depths of the Sephora store, Stan watches his surroundings shift from slightly off, to off, to get-me-the-hell-out-of-here off.
    — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Netflix’s stock price has dropped more than 40% over the past year (off 25% year to date) as Wall Street has increasingly scrutinized its viewer engagement, which increased only 2% over the first half of the year to 97 billion hours viewed.
    — Peter White, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of off

Browse Nearby Words

hemstitch
hence
henceforth
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hence. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of vocation

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All