HINT

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does hint mean? 

• HINT (noun)
  The noun HINT has 5 senses:

1. an indirect suggestion

2. a slight indication

3. a slight but appreciable amount

4. a just detectable amount

5. an indication of potential opportunity

  Familiarity information: HINT used as a noun is common.

• HINT (verb)
  The verb HINT has 1 sense:

1. drop a hint; intimate by a hint

  Familiarity information: HINT used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HINT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An indirect suggestion

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

breath; hint; intimation

Context example:

not a breath of scandal ever touched her

Hypernyms ("hint" is a kind of...):

proffer; proposition; suggestion (a proposal offered for acceptance or rejection)

Derivation:

hint (drop a hint; intimate by a hint)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A slight indication

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

clue; hint

Hypernyms ("hint" is a kind of...):

indicant; indication (something that serves to indicate or suggest)

Derivation:

hint (drop a hint; intimate by a hint)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A slight but appreciable amount

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

hint; jot; mite; pinch; soupcon; speck; tinge; touch

Context example:

this dish could use a touch of garlic

Hypernyms ("hint" is a kind of...):

small indefinite amount; small indefinite quantity (an indefinite quantity that is below average size or magnitude)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "hint"):

snuff (a pinch of smokeless tobacco inhaled at a single time)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A just detectable amount

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

hint; suggestion; tint; trace

Context example:

a tint of glamour

Hypernyms ("hint" is a kind of...):

small indefinite amount; small indefinite quantity (an indefinite quantity that is below average size or magnitude)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "hint"):

spark (a small but noticeable trace of some quality that might become stronger)

Sense 5

Meaning:

An indication of potential opportunity

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

confidential information; hint; lead; steer; tip; wind

Context example:

a good lead for a job

Hypernyms ("hint" is a kind of...):

counsel; counseling; counselling; direction; guidance (something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action)

Derivation:

hint (drop a hint; intimate by a hint)

• HINT (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they hint    ... he / she / it hints   
Past simple: hinted   
Past participle: hinted   
-ing form: hinting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Drop a hint; intimate by a hint

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

hint; suggest

Hypernyms (to "hint" is one way to...):

convey ((of information) make known; pass on)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "hint"):

adumbrate; insinuate; intimate (give to understand)

clue in (provide someone with a clue)

advert; allude; touch (make a more or less disguised reference to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sentence example:

They hint that there was a traffic accident

Derivation:

hint (an indication of potential opportunity)

hint (a slight indication)

hint (an indirect suggestion)

 Context examples 

I would write to him myself, but have mislaid his direction; and, as I hinted above, am afraid he took something in my conduct amiss.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Old Ebbits now and again pulled his tangled wits together, and hints and sparkles of intelligence came and went in his eyes.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

If any little problem comes your way, I shall be happy, if I can, to give you a hint or two as to its solution.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She knew, that when he now took up the Baronetage, it was to drive the heavy bills of his tradespeople, and the unwelcome hints of Mr Shepherd, his agent, from his thoughts.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

There are people; and people are curious, and investigate. A hint, a surmise, a doubt as to what might be in the box, would destroy him.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

“I should prefer going with you,” she said in a low voice, in which there was just a hint of appeal.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

“I’d be very glad of a hint or two,” said the detective, changing his manner.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There was nobody to tell him, to hint to him, to give him the least word of advice.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Watch the phone calls you receive involving creativity in the two days before and after January 10 for a hint at what comes next.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Julia might be justified in so doing by the hints of Mrs. Grant, inclined to credit what she wished, and Maria by the hints of Mr. Crawford himself.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)