Finesentence

Hint Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

💡
Save

hint

hint

🇺🇸 /ˈhɪnt/ · 🇬🇧 /hˈɪnt/

Definition

Context #1 | Noun

useful information

A suggestion or piece of advice that helps someone to solve a problem or improve their understanding of a subject.

Synonyms

clue, cue, pointer, tip.

Examples of usage

  • She gave me a hint about the upcoming surprise party.
  • Can you give me a hint on how to solve this puzzle?

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Quick facts about “hint”

Hint is a 1-syllable noun. It is pronounced /ˈhɪnt/ in American English and /hˈɪnt/ in British English. On finesentence.com it has 1 meaning, 4 synonyms, and translations into 21 languages. It ranks #6,561 among the most common English words.

Did you know?

“hint” in psychology

  • Hints are used in learning and memory as they can trigger recall of information that might otherwise be forgotten.
  • Providing hints during problem-solving can reduce anxiety and help maintain motivation, especially in educational settings.

“hint” in game design

  • In game development, hints are commonly integrated to guide players through challenges, enhancing user experiences without revealing too much.
  • Many mystery games use hints to keep players engaged, allowing them to piece together the story without giving everything away.

“hint” in literature

  • Authors often use hints in narratives to foreshadow events, creating suspense and encouraging readers to pay attention to details.
  • In detective stories, subtle hints often lead readers to deduce important clues before the main character does.

“hint” in pop culture

  • Television shows and movies frequently employ hints in plots, leaving breadcrumbs for viewers to solve mysteries along with the characters.
  • Popular escape room games rely heavily on hints, challenging teams to solve puzzles by deciphering clues provided throughout the experience.

Origin of 'hint'

Main points about word origin

  • The word 'hint' originated in the early 14th century, deriving from the Middle English term 'hinten', meaning to suggest indirectly.
  • Historically, 'hint' was often used in the context of hunting, where it referred to a small signal given to show where to find something.

The word 'hint' originated in Middle English from the Old English word 'hynt', meaning 'a catch, a hint'. Over time, it evolved to its current meaning of a subtle or indirect suggestion.

See also: hinted, hinting, hints.

Rhymes

Hint rhymes with quint, print, reprint, mint, flint, tint, lint and splint.

See all rhymes →

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,561 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.