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hint

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noun American English pronunciation: hint /hɪnt/ 
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singularhint
pluralhints
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Related dictionary definitions

  1. 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.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hint
  2. 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.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hint
  3. 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.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hint
  4. 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

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hint

This is the American English definition of hint. View British English definition of hint.

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