Synonyms of hire

hire 1 of 2

verb

1

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

• rent
• lease
• charter
• engage
• check out
• sublet
• book
• arrange (for)
• contract (for)
• sublease
• order
• reserve
• sign up (for)
• bespeak

2

as in to employ

to provide with a paying job

the farm hires teenagers to pick blueberries in the summer

Synonyms & Similar Words

• employ
• recruit
• pay
• engage
• enlist
• place
• retain
• job
• fee
• sign (up or on)
• assume
• take on
• lay on
• partner
• rehire
• promote
• subcontract
• contract
• reemploy
• upgrade
• apprentice
• reengage
• keep (on)
• headhunt
• scout
• advance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• can
• dismiss
• sack
• fire
• ax
• discharge
• lay off
• lock out
• furlough

hire

2 of 2

noun

ˈhī(-ə)r 

1

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

• employ
• employment
• tenure
• work
• assignment
• appointment
• engagement
• position
• recruitment
• occupation
• enlistment
• situation
• conscription
• post
• place
• incumbency

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unemployment
• removal
• firing
• discharge
• dismissal
• boot
• sack
• severance
• suspension
• leave
• retirement
• joblessness
• nonemployment
• liberty
• layoff
• furlough
• demotion

2

as in salary

the money paid regularly to a person for labor or services

used to mow lawns for hire

Synonyms & Similar Words

• salary
• wage
• pay
• payment
• stipend
• paycheck
• pay envelope
• emolument
• overtime
• compensation
• minimum wage
• living wage
• packet
• return
• double time
• earnings
• reimbursement
• profit
• take-home pay
• repayment
• reparation
• nominal wages
• redress
• recompense
• restitution
• time and a half
• remuneration
• remittance
• recoupment
• takings
• yield
• requital

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

Recent Examples of hire

Verb

Law was hired by the Bulls as vice president of player personnel, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto. —C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 14 May 2026

Besides hitting consumers’ pocketbooks, those higher costs can discourage businesses from hiring. —Matt Ott, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026

Noun

Rising inflation stemming from the Iran war and a low-hire environment in the job market outside certain sectors like health care pose risks to both sides of the Fed’s mission – keeping prices stable and employment high. —Rachel Barber, USA Today, 13 May 2026

McDonald's is still on top of the leaderboard around here for the ex-con workers, but there's something about the employees Wendy's, especially here in NW Ohio, hires. —Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026