hint

/hɪnt/
nounBeginner a slight or indirect suggestion
informal

a slight or indirect suggestion or clue

Can you give me a hint about the answer?

Can you provide a subtle clue about the answer?

The detective found a hint in the suspect's diary.

The detective discovered a clue in the suspect's diary.

💡

Often used to suggest something indirectly or subtly.

informal

to give a slight or indirect suggestion

She hinted that she might quit her job.

She suggested indirectly that she might quit her job.

He hinted at a possible promotion.

He suggested indirectly that a promotion might be coming.

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When used as a verb, it means to suggest something subtly.

Collocations

give a hintto provide a subtle suggestiondrop a hintto suggest something indirectlytake a hintto understand an indirect suggestion

Related Phrases

drop a hintphrase
to suggest something indirectly
take a hintphrase
to understand an indirect suggestion

💡Pro Tip

Usage as a Noun and Verb

'Hint' can be used as both a noun (a slight suggestion) and a verb (to suggest indirectly).

Gold Rule

Indirect Suggestion

'Hint' is often used to describe something that is suggested indirectly or subtly.

📖Word Origin

From Middle English *hinten* (to point out), from Old English *hintian* (to point out, show), from Proto-Germanic *hintōną (to point out).

📝Usage Notes

The word 'hint' is often used to describe something that is suggested indirectly or subtly. It can be used as both a noun and a verb.

Word Breakdown

hint
a slight or indirect suggestion
root
English Dictionary