hail

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈhāl 

1

: precipitation in the form of small balls or lumps usually consisting of concentric layers of clear ice and compact snow

2

: something that gives the effect of a shower of hail

a hail of rifle fire

hail

2 of 5

verb (1)

hailed; hailing; hails

intransitive verb

1

: to precipitate hail (see hail entry 1)

it was hailing hard

2

: to pour down or strike like hail

Bullets were hailing down on them.

hail

3 of 5

verb (2)

hailed; hailing; hails

transitive verb

1

a

: to greet with enthusiastic approval : acclaim

hailed as a great success

b

: salute, greet

returning soldiers hailed with parades

2

: to greet or summon by calling

hail a taxi

intransitive verb

: to call out

especially : to call a greeting to a passing ship

hailer

ˈhā-lər 

noun

hail

4 of 5

interjection

1

—used to express acclamation

hail to the chief

—Sir Walter Scott

2

archaic

—used as a salutation

hail

5 of 5

noun (2)

1

: an exclamation of greeting or acclamation

greeted the emperor with a hail

2

: a calling to attract attention

3

: hearing distance

stayed within hail

Phrases

hail from

: to be or have been native to or a resident of

She hails from Chicago.

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• rain
• shower
• storm

Verb (2)

• acclaim
• accredit
• applaud
• cheer
• crack up
• laud
• praise
• salute
• tout

Noun (2)

• earshot
• hearing
• sound

Examples of hail in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a hail of small stones warned them of the oncoming avalanche

even under the hail of angry questions, the press secretary stayed cool

Verb (2)

the museum director hailed the artist's new installation as a groundbreaking work of genius

let's hail a taxi

hailed the waiter for the check

Noun (2)

stay within hail of the restaurant's front desk so you'll know when your table is ready

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Remembering the 11 victims In her statement Sunday, Harris mourned the lives that were taken that day and also hailed the resiliency and enduring strength of Pittsburgh's Jewish community. —Julia Reinstein, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2024

The 15 Earthshot Prize finalists hail from six continents, with France, Ghana, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Nepal all having teams in contention for the first time. —Kathy Rose Obrien, CNN, 26 Oct. 2024

Noun

The men competing in Finding Mr. Christmas hail from Texas, New Jersey, California, and Vancouver. —Anne Easton, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

Though the rain could cause flooding, damaging winds and hail are the main hazards through the midweek, meteorologists said. —Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Verb (1)

Middle English, from Old English hægl; akin to Old High German hagal hail

Interjection, Verb (2), and Noun (2)

Middle English, from Old Norse heill, from heill healthy — more at whole

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1b

Interjection

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun (2)

1500, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hail

• all hail
• hail a taxi
• hail-fellow
• hail-fellow-well-met
• hail from
• soft hail

Kids Definition

hail

1 of 5 noun

ˈhā(ə)l 

1

: small lumps of ice that fall from clouds sometimes during thunderstorms

2

: something that gives the effect of falling hail

a hail of bullets

hail

2 of 5 verb

1

: to fall as hail

2

: to pour down like hail

hail

3 of 5 interjection

1

—used to express enthusiastic approval

2

archaic

—used as a greeting

hail

4 of 5 verb

1

a

: greet sense 1

b

: to greet with enthusiastic approval : acclaim

hailed them as heroes

2

: to summon by calling

hail a taxi

3

: to call out to

hail a passing ship

hail

5 of 5 noun

1

: an act or instance of hailing

2

: hearing distance

stayed within hail

Etymology

Noun

Old English hægl "lumps of ice, hail"

Interjection

Middle English hail (an interjection of approval or greeting), derived from early Norse heill "healthy" — related to hale entry 1, wassail