hint

noun

UK /hɪnt/

Word Forms

singular	hint
plural	hints

1
countable something that you say to show what you are thinking or feeling, without saying it directly
hint that:
Was this a hint that he’d had enough of her company for tonight?
take a/the hint (=understand what someone wants you to do):
She hoped he would take the hint and leave her alone.
drop a hint (=say something in an indirect way):
Sam keeps dropping hints about what he wants for his birthday.
Ferguson has dropped his broadest hint yet that he will retire next year.
Synonyms and related words
Being careful about what you say
imply
get at
convey
Collocates
Adjectives frequently used with hint
▪ broad, gentle, heavy, slight, strong, subtle, vague, veiled
2
singular a small amount of something
hint of:
There was a hint of impatience in his voice.
yellow with a hint of green
more than a hint of something (=a lot of something):
The profession welcomed the recommendations with more than a hint of relief.
‘I am clearly the best man for the job,’ he declared, without the slightest hint of irony.
a/the hint of a smile:
‘Maybe,’ she replied with the hint of a smile.
Synonyms and related words
Small amounts or pieces of something
bit
piece
fragment
Collocates
Nouns frequently used with hint
▪ amusement, impatience, irritation, sadness, sarcasm
3
countable a sign that something exists or is going to happen
After ten days of negotiations, there was still no hint of a breakthrough.
give no/little hint of something:
The early morning weather gave no hint of the storms to come.
Synonyms and related words
Slight signs of something
trace
glimpse
inkling
4
countable a useful suggestion or piece of advice
helpful/handy hints:
This leaflet is full of handy hints about safety in the home.
hint on:
hints on how to improve your computer skills
Synonyms and related words
Advice
advice
guidance
recommendation

phrases

give someone a hint

hint

noun

US /hɪnt/

Word Forms

singular	hint
plural	hints

1
countable something that you say to show what you are thinking or feeling, without saying it directly
hint that:
Was this a hint that he’d had enough of her company for tonight?
take a/the hint (=understand what someone wants you to do):
She hoped he would take the hint and leave her alone.
drop a hint (=say something in an indirect way):
Sam keeps dropping hints about what he wants for his birthday.
Ferguson has dropped his broadest hint yet that he will retire next year.
Synonyms and related words
Being careful about what you say
imply
get at
convey
Collocates
Adjectives frequently used with hint
▪ broad, gentle, heavy, slight, strong, subtle, vague, veiled
2
singular a small amount of something
hint of:
There was a hint of impatience in his voice.
yellow with a hint of green
more than a hint of something (=a lot of something):
The profession welcomed the recommendations with more than a hint of relief.
“I am clearly the best man for the job,” he declared, without the slightest hint of irony.
a/the hint of a smile:
“Maybe,” she replied with the hint of a smile.
Synonyms and related words
Small amounts or pieces of something
bit
piece
fragment
Collocates
Nouns frequently used with hint
▪ amusement, impatience, irritation, sadness, sarcasm
3
countable a sign that something exists or is going to happen
After ten days of negotiations, there was still no hint of a breakthrough.
give no/little hint of something:
The early morning weather gave no hint of the storms to come.
Synonyms and related words
Slight signs of something
trace
glimpse
inkling
4
countable a useful suggestion or piece of advice
helpful hints:
This leaflet is full of handy hints about safety in the home.
hint on:
hints on how to improve your computer skills
Synonyms and related words
Advice
advice
guidance
recommendation

phrases

give someone a hint

hint

verb intransitive/transitive

UK /hɪnt/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	hint
he/she/it	hints
present participle	hinting
past tense	hinted
past participle	hinted

1
to say what you are thinking or feeling in an indirect way
hint (that):
The Prime Minister hinted that the crisis could continue throughout the summer.
hint at:
Officials are hinting at the possibility of signing an agreement this week.
Synonyms and related words
Being careful about what you say
imply
get at
convey

hint

verb intransitive/transitive

US /hɪnt/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	hint
he/she/it	hints
present participle	hinting
past tense	hinted
past participle	hinted

1
to say what you are thinking or feeling in an indirect way
hint (that):
The FDA hinted that the crisis could continue throughout the summer.
hint at:
Officials are hinting at the possibility of signing an agreement this week.
Synonyms and related words
Being careful about what you say
imply
get at
convey

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