hat

1 of 2

noun

ˈhat 

1

: a covering for the head usually having a shaped crown and brim

2

a

: a distinctive head covering worn as a symbol of office

b

: an office, position, or role assumed by or as if by the wearing of a special hat

wore many hats in her career

hatless

ˈhat-ləs 

adjective

hat

2 of 2

verb

hatted; hatting

transitive verb

: to furnish or provide with a hat

intransitive verb

: to make or supply hats

Phrases

under one's hat

: not disclosed

kept the news under his hat

Synonyms

Noun

• cap
• chapeau
• headdress
• headgear
• headpiece
• lid [slang]

Examples of hat in a Sentence

Noun

in those days, no properly dressed person left home without a hat

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The two parents looked down lovingly at their baby, who was wearing a pink hat. —Hannah Sacks, People.com, 6 Jan. 2025

The sisters wore matching Tri Delta hats, waved signs, and rushed up for hugs with their fellow Virginia Tech alumna. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 6 Jan. 2025

His couch is adorned with a Chiefs throw blanket, and on it sits a lineup of over 20 hats, almost as if on display at Arrowhead Stadium’s pro shop. —Dominick Williams, Kansas City Star, 5 Jan. 2025

Elsewhere, Lopez trims a different tree, stares into the camera while wearing a fuzzy wool hat, goofs around with her 16-year-old twins with ex Marc Anthony, Emme and Max, and hits the slopes. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 3 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hæt; akin to Old High German huot head covering — more at hood entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing hat

• at the drop of a hat
• black hat
• brass hat
• bucket hat
• coat-check/hat-check girl
• cocked hat
• cowboy hat
• doff one's hat to
• flat-hat
• hang one's hat
• hang one's hat on
• hard hat
• hat in hand
• hat trick
• high hat
• hi-hat
• I'll eat my hat
• into a cocked hat
• keep (something) under one's hat
• old hat
• opera hat
• panama hat
• pass the hat
• picture hat
• plug hat
• porkpie hat
• pot hat
• shovel hat
• silk hat
• slouch hat
• straw hat
• sun hat
• take one's hat off to
• talk through one's hat
• ten-gallon hat
• throw/toss one's hat in/into the ring
• tin hat
• tip one's cap/hat
• top hat
• trucker hat
• white hat

Kids Definition

hat

noun

ˈhat

1

: a covering for the head usually having a shaped crown and brim

2

a

: a distinctive head covering worn as a symbol of office

b

: an office, position, or role assumed as if by the wearing of a special hat

wears many hats in her job