1
: from this place : away
2
a
archaic : henceforth
b
: from this time
four years hence
3
: because of a preceding fact or premise : therefore
4
: from this source or origin
Phrases
from hence
archaic : from this place : from this time

Examples of hence in a Sentence

Resource-rich countries don't need to levy taxes, so there is little pressure for government accountability, and hence fewer checks and balances. Niall Ferguson, New York Times Book Review, 1 July 2007
Panforte—a cross between a cake and a candy—is a classic Italian Christmas treat. It's a very dense, rich confection loaded with nuts, dried fruit, and spices (hence its name, which means "strong bread"). Gourmet, December 2002
Common sense told the YA librarian that if ever she hoped to be successful with her clients, she would have to offset the prevailing attitude of most of the staff. Through determination and patience, she soon established herself as confidante, friend, and advisor to large numbers of middle and high school students. Hence, it was not surprising when she was approached one day by a young man and young woman with a request. A. J. Anderson, Library Journal, 1 May 1994
He knew he could not win the election—hence his decision to withdraw. The company lost a great deal of money. Hence, the CEO was asked to resign. What will life be like a century hence?
Recent Examples on the Web For its size, Mercury contains as much volatile content as other terrestrial planets in the solar system that are farther from the sun and hence much colder. Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024 But Israeli officials recognize that will be a difficult needle to thread, hence the ongoing debate. Jeremy Diamond, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hence 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hennes, henne, from Old English heonan; akin to Old High German hinnan away, Old English hēr here

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hence was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near hence

Cite this Entry

“Hence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hence. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

hence

adverb
1
: from this place or time
a week hence
2
: consequently, therefore
was a newcomer and hence had no close friends in the city

More from Merriam-Webster on hence

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