noun
hint
hihnt
noun
1
A small clue or suggestion that helps someone understand or guess something.
"She gave me a hint about what he was getting for his birthday."
"Can you give me a hint for question three?"
2
A very small trace or amount of something.
"There was just a hint of garlic in the sauce."
verb
1
To suggest something indirectly, without saying it outright.
"He hinted that he might be leaving the company soon."
"She kept hinting that she wanted flowers for her birthday."
How to Use Hint
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small clue you give or notice, or the act of suggesting something without saying it directly.
Common pairings
take a hint
drop a hint
a hint of
Word Forms
hinted past tense, hints plural, hints singular
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She gave me a _____ about what he was getting for his birthday.
Etymology
From Middle English henten ("to seize, grasp"), related to "hunt."