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Hinting Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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hinting

hint-ing

🇺🇸 /ˈhɪntɪŋ/ · 🇬🇧 /hˈɪntɪŋ/

Definitions

Context #1 | Verb

communication

Giving someone a clue or suggestion about something without directly stating it.

Synonyms

allude, imply, suggest.

Examples of usage

  • He kept hinting that he wanted to go to the new restaurant in town.
  • She was hinting at the surprise birthday party without giving it away.
Context #2 | Noun

communication

A subtle or indirect cue or suggestion.

Synonyms

clue, cue, suggestion.

Examples of usage

  • She picked up on his hints and realized what he was hinting at.
  • The hinting in her tone made it clear that she was not happy with the decision.

Translations

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Quick facts about “hinting”

Hinting is a 2-syllable verb and noun (hint-ing). It is pronounced /ˈhɪntɪŋ/ in American English and /hˈɪntɪŋ/ in British English. On finesentence.com it has 2 meanings, 6 synonyms, and translations into 21 languages. It ranks #22,452 among the most common English words.

Origin of 'hinting'

The word 'hinting' originates from the verb 'hint,' which dates back to the 17th century. It is derived from the Middle English word 'henten,' meaning 'to seize,' which is related to the Old English word 'hentan.' Over time, the meaning of 'hint' evolved to convey the idea of suggesting or indirectly indicating something. The noun form 'hinting' emerged later to describe the act of giving or receiving subtle cues or suggestions.

See also: hint, hinted, hints.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #22,452, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.