hint
2 ENTRIES FOUND:
plural
hints
plural
hints
Britannica Dictionary definition of HINT
[count]
1
:
a small piece of information that helps you guess an answer or do something more easily
-
I can't tell you the answer, but I'll give you a hint. [=clue]
-
The book includes helpful hints [=tips] for inexperienced cooks.
2
:
information about something given in an indirect way
-
Her face gave me a hint of what she was thinking.
especially
:
a statement that suggests something that you do not want to say in a direct way
-
He's been dropping hints that he'd like to be invited to the party. [=he has been saying things that show that he wants to be invited]
-
When she told me how much work she had to do, I got/took the hint [=I understood what she was suggesting] and left.
-
“I have a lot of work to do.” “OK, I'll leave. I can take a hint.”
3
:
a very small amount of something
-
The sauce has a subtle hint of garlic.
-
It was late March, but there was still a hint [=trace] of winter in the air.
-
He had a hint of a German accent.
-
They'll betray you at the first hint of trouble.
2
hint
/ˈhɪnt/
verb
hints;
hinted;
hinting
2
hint
/ˈhɪnt/
verb
hints;
hinted;
hinting
Britannica Dictionary definition of HINT
:
to say (something) or give information about (something) in an indirect way
[+ object]
— usually + that
-
He's been hinting that he might run for mayor.
[no object]
-
I keep hinting, but she's not catching on. I think I need to be more direct.
-
The boss hinted about possible layoffs.
hint at
[phrasal verb]
hint at (something)
:
to talk about (something) in an indirect way
-
He's been hinting at the possibility of running for mayor. = He's been hinting at a mayoral run.
-
The history textbook only hinted at the racial prejudice of that era.
-
What is she hinting at?
