Did you know?

Click any word in a definition or example to find the entry for that word

hot

- definition

What are red words?

90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing. These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are more frequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.

Thesaurus

The thesaurus of synonyms and related words is fully integrated into the dictionary entries. Click on the T button in an entry to review the synonyms and related words for that meaning.

adjective

/hɒt/

adjective	hot
comparative	hotter
superlative	hottest

Other entries for this word

Related dictionary definitions

more dictionary definitions

Synonyms

1
very high in temperature
Cook the fish under a hot grill for 5 minutes.
Her forehead still feels a bit hot.
It's so hot in here – can't we open a window?
boiling/scalding hot (=extremely hot):
a pan of boiling hot water
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
1. a.
  feeling uncomfortable because the temperature is too high or you are wearing too many clothes
  Take your jacket off if you're hot.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
2. b.
  used about the weather
  It's going to be hot again today.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
3. c.
  where the weather is often hot
  The disease is particularly common in hot countries such as India and Panama.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
4. d.
  cooked and served hot
  I haven't had a hot meal in days.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
2
hot food contains a lot of spices that create a burning feeling in your mouth
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
3
informal involving strong emotions
a hot love affair/romance
have a hot temper (=get angry easily):
Our coach has a really hot temper.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
1. a.
  a hot issue is important and causes arguments because people strongly disagree
  Tax cuts have become a hot topic in this election campaign.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
4
informal exciting and interesting, especially because of being new
hot news about impending changes in Cabinet
the hot new look in women's fashions
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
1. a.
  exciting, successful, and popular
  one of Hollywood's hottest young directors
  a hot property (=someone in acting, sport, business etc who has just become very successful):
  She's now a very hot property in television.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
5
informal especially good in some way
a hot tip (=a useful piece of advice)
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
1. a.
  very skilful
  a hot musician/dancer/player
  hot at:
  Kyle's pretty hot at tennis.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
2. b.
  very lucky
  hot cards/dice
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
6
difficult, or dangerous
hot for:
When things got too hot for her at home, she'd stay with a friend.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
7
informal involving sexual feelings or images
love scenes that are too hot for TV
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
1. a.
  sexually attractive
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
2. b.
  keen to have sex
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
8
informal determined to do something
hot for:
Hot for revenge, the soldiers marched northward.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
9
informal involving a lot of activity or competition
The property market is very hot these days.
hot competition:
There is hot competition from other companies to win the contract.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
10
informal stolen and being looked for by the police
a hot car
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
11
spoken used in a children's game for saying that you are very close to finding something, or to guessing the right answer
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot

phrases

(all) hot and bothered
upset and confused, for example because you have too much to do
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
blow hot and cold
to change your mind a lot about whether you like someone or something
The European Union keeps blowing hot and cold on the issue of membership.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
go hot and cold
to suddenly become very nervous, afraid, or confused about something
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
hot off the press(es)
only just printed, or only just received
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
hot on something
1. 1
  interested in something and knowing a lot about it
  Elizabeth's really hot on nuclear physics.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
2. 2
  strict about something
  They're very hot on safety in the workplace.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
hot on the heels of
arriving or happening very close behind someone or something
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
hot on the trail of
1. 1
  very close behind someone or something, and about to catch them
  He got away but the police are hot on his trail.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
2. 2
  very close to finding something
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
hot to trot
informal
keen to do something, especially to have sex
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
hot under the collar
very annoyed or nervous
We disagree with each other from time to time, and we both get a little hot under the collar.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
in hot pursuit
chasing someone in a very determined way
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
in hot water
in trouble because of something that you have done
land/get someone in hot water:
Rick's temper had landed him in hot water again.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
not so/too hot
spoken
1. 1
  not of a very high quality or standard
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
2. 2
  not feeling very well or very happy
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot
too hot to handle
too difficult or dangerous to get involved with
The exiled leader was becoming too hot to handle and the government decided to expel him.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hot

Synonyms: hot

Other ways of saying hot

tepid almost cold: used especially of liquids: a mouthful of tepid coffee

lukewarm only slightly hot: used especially of food or liquids: Wash the sweater in lukewarm water.

warm pleasantly hot: a warm sunny day ♦ a nice warm bath

sweltering very hot in a way that is unpleasant or uncomfortable, used especially for describing the weather: the sweltering midday heat

boiling (hot) very hot in a way that is unpleasant or uncomfortable. Also used for referring to the temperature of a liquid when it starts to bubble: Can you turn the heating down? I'm boiling. ♦ Plunge the pasta into boiling water.

scalding (hot) hot enough to burn your skin, used for referring to the temperature of liquids: The bath water was scalding hot.

roasting extremely hot: used especially for referring to the temperature inside a place rather than outside: Phew! It's roasting in here!

baking very hot and dry: the baking heat of the afternoon sun

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

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

charticle

a news article that consists of a chart … and only has a small amount of text

BuzzWord Article

More BuzzWords

BuzzWord archive

Word of the Day

neutron

the part of the nucleus of an atom that has no electrical charge

Word of the Day

Open Dictionary

never event

an event that should never occur in a healthcare setting …

add a word

More submissions

view entries

Blog

A must for anyone with an interest in the changing face of language. The Macmillan Dictionary blog explores English as it is spoken around the world today.

global English and language change from our blog

Did you know?

hot

What are red words?

Thesaurus

Related dictionary definitions

Menu

phrases

(all) hot and bothered

blow hot and cold

go hot and cold

hot off the press(es)

hot on something

hot on the heels of

hot on the trail of

hot to trot

hot under the collar

in hot pursuit

in hot water

not so/too hot

too hot to handle

charticle

Word of the Day

neutron

never event