hail

1 of 2

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

2 of 2

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

see also:

hail from

Synonyms of hail

Verb (2)

• praise
• applaud
• salute
• acclaim

Examples of hail in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Adding scientists to the corps in the late 1960s, and deliberately recruiting women and Black astronauts in the 1970s, were widely hailed as steps the agency was taking back then towards diversity. —Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 10 June 2026

A lot of my extended family lives in the Jiangnan region in eastern China, where the dish hails from. —The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 June 2026

Only Murders in the Building hails from co-creators and writers Steve Martin and John Hoffman. —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 10 June 2026

But the major ride-hailing app services come with some age restrictions. —Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 10 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

and Verb (2)

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing hail

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

Rhymes for hail

• ail
• ale
• bail
• baile
• dail
• fail
• flail
• frail
• gael
• gail
• grail
• jail

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