2 hate
Function:
verbInflected forms:
hates; hat·ed; hat·ingMeaning:
1 : to dislike (someone) very strongly : to feel hate for (someone) [+ obj] ▪ He was a cruel tyrant who was hated and feared by his people. ▪ She hated them for betraying her. ▪ They were political rivals who truly/bitterly hated each other. ▪ What is it that you hate about him most? ▪ a hated enemy [no obj] ▪ children whose families have taught them to hate —opposite love
2 [+ obj] : to dislike (something) very strongly : to find (something) very unpleasant ▪ She hates [=really dislikes] cold weather. ▪ I hate spinach. ▪ I hate doing this. ▪ I hate having to do this. = I hate it when I have to do this. ▪ They hate being apart from each other. ▪ I hate the idea of leaving my mother alone all week. ▪ She hates cooking. —often followed by to + verb ▪ They hate to be apart from each other. ▪ She hates to cook. —opposite love
3 [+ obj] —used to apologize for doing something or to express regret or guilt ▪ I hate bothering you [=I'm sorry to bother you], but would you mind moving your car? ▪ I'd hate it if they got the wrong idea. [=I would feel regret if they misunderstood] —often followed by to + verb ▪ I hate to bother you [=I'm sorry to bother you], but would you mind moving your car? ▪ I hate to say it, but I don't think he has much chance of winning. ▪ I'd hate (for) them to get the wrong idea.
2 [+ obj] : to dislike (something) very strongly : to find (something) very unpleasant ▪ She hates [=really dislikes] cold weather. ▪ I hate spinach. ▪ I hate doing this. ▪ I hate having to do this. = I hate it when I have to do this. ▪ They hate being apart from each other. ▪ I hate the idea of leaving my mother alone all week. ▪ She hates cooking. —often followed by to + verb ▪ They hate to be apart from each other. ▪ She hates to cook. —opposite love
3 [+ obj] —used to apologize for doing something or to express regret or guilt ▪ I hate bothering you [=I'm sorry to bother you], but would you mind moving your car? ▪ I'd hate it if they got the wrong idea. [=I would feel regret if they misunderstood] —often followed by to + verb ▪ I hate to bother you [=I'm sorry to bother you], but would you mind moving your car? ▪ I hate to say it, but I don't think he has much chance of winning. ▪ I'd hate (for) them to get the wrong idea.
hate someone's guts —see 1gut
—hat·er noun plural hat·ers [count] ▪ a cat hater [=a person who hates cats]