HIRE Synonyms: 108 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'hire' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of hire are charter , lease , let , and rent . While all these words mean "to engage or grant for use at a price," hire and let , strictly speaking, are complementary terms, hire implying the act of engaging or taking for use and let the granting of use. // we hired a car for the summer // decided to let the cottage to a young couple

Q: In what contexts can 'charter' take the place of 'hire'?

The synonyms charter and hire are sometimes interchangeable, but charter applies to the hiring or letting of a vehicle usually for exclusive use. // charter a bus to go to the game

Q: When can 'lease' be used instead of 'hire'?

The words lease and hire can be used in similar contexts, but lease strictly implies a letting under the terms of a contract but is often applied to hiring on a lease. // the diplomat leased an apartment for a year

Q: When is it sensible to use 'rent' instead of 'hire'?

Although the words rent and hire have much in common, rent stresses the payment of money for the full use of property and may imply either hiring or letting. // instead of buying a house, they decided to rent // will not rent to families with children

hire 1 of 2

verb

Definition of hire

as in to rent

to take or get the temporary use of (something) for a set sum the Youngs hired a limousine for their daughter's wedding

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to employ

to provide with a paying job the farm hires teenagers to pick blueberries in the summer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hire

2 of 2

noun

ˈhī(-ə)r

as in employ

the state of being provided with a paying job he spent most of his career in the hire of high-paying defense contractors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in salary

the money paid regularly to a person for labor or services used to mow lawns for hire

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word hire different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of hire are charter, lease, let, and rent. While all these words mean "to engage or grant for use at a price," hire and let, strictly speaking, are complementary terms, hire implying the act of engaging or taking for use and let the granting of use.

we hired a car for the summer

decided to let the cottage to a young couple

In what contexts can charter take the place of hire?

The synonyms charter and hire are sometimes interchangeable, but charter applies to the hiring or letting of a vehicle usually for exclusive use.

charter a bus to go to the game

When can lease be used instead of hire?

The words lease and hire can be used in similar contexts, but lease strictly implies a letting under the terms of a contract but is often applied to hiring on a lease.

the diplomat leased an apartment for a year

When is it sensible to use rent instead of hire?

Although the words rent and hire have much in common, rent stresses the payment of money for the full use of property and may imply either hiring or letting.

instead of buying a house, they decided to rent

will not rent to families with children

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 hire

Verb

Once that ownership is clear, the next step is turning the company pay philosophy into a policy that can actually guide hiring decisions. — Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026 In separate reports this year, Human Rights Watch and Conflict Insights Group said the Colombians were hired by an Emirati contractor and trained in Emirati military bases. — Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026

Noun

Jung, who has a background in fashion design, stage design and exhibition space design, was Kiaf’s first outside hire for creative director. — News Desk, Artforum, 31 July 2026 The strongest hire is not always the most technically impressive individual. — Amy Powell, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hire

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hire

Verb

The county just completed major renovations, including the dredging of the lake to improve water quality and the construction of a lakeside pavilion that can be rented out for events.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2026
When The Times knocked on the door of the home Yeager had hoped to rent — days after Yeager had been told the tenants would be moving out — a dog immediately barked.

— Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026

Definition of rent

Verb

Kyiv has accused the e-commerce giant — which employs thousands of people and has become a key part of the economy — of storing drone parts and helping the Russian army.

— CBS News, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
So the Chiefs employed two of the worst-six running backs in their ability to make people miss.

— Sam McDowell July 31, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026

Definition of employ

Noun

None of these savings will be passed on to you, and a salary cap does not guarantee your team has a better chance to win.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Aug. 2026
Such a $7 million giveback by LaVine, 31, however, still would have left the Kings on the hook for $42 million to pay LaVine to walk away, as opposed to holding on to his salary for potential use in a trade.

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of salary

Verb

Graves said recruiting and retaining officers remains one of the biggest challenges facing whoever takes over for her, along with continuing to embrace technology and modern policing.

— Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
North America, in particular, has huge potential for businesses such as Endra, with many engineers struggling to recruit enough staff to work in the same way as in the past.

— David Prosser, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of recruit

Noun

There’s often debate about whether AI is used by employers to increase productivity among its workforce or cut wage costs, according to Brian Justie, a senior research analyst with the UCLA Labor Center.

— Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 30 July 2026
With wages barely keeping up with inflation, households have been tapping savings and saving less to maintain spending, a situation that economists said could not continue indefinitely.

— Lucia Mutikani, USA Today, 30 July 2026

Definition of wage

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hipsters

hire

hired

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“Hire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hire. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of hire

verb

noun

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