HIRE Synonyms: 108 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'hire' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of hire are charter , lease , let , and rent . While all these words mean "to engage or grant for use at a price," hire and let , strictly speaking, are complementary terms, hire implying the act of engaging or taking for use and let the granting of use. // we hired a car for the summer // decided to let the cottage to a young couple

Q: In what contexts can 'charter' take the place of 'hire'?

The synonyms charter and hire are sometimes interchangeable, but charter applies to the hiring or letting of a vehicle usually for exclusive use. // charter a bus to go to the game

Q: When can 'lease' be used instead of 'hire'?

The words lease and hire can be used in similar contexts, but lease strictly implies a letting under the terms of a contract but is often applied to hiring on a lease. // the diplomat leased an apartment for a year

Q: When is it sensible to use 'rent' instead of 'hire'?

Although the words rent and hire have much in common, rent stresses the payment of money for the full use of property and may imply either hiring or letting. // instead of buying a house, they decided to rent // will not rent to families with children

hire 1 of 2

verb

Definition of hire next

as in to rent

to take or get the temporary use of (something) for a set sum the Youngs hired a limousine for their daughter's wedding

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to employ

to provide with a paying job the farm hires teenagers to pick blueberries in the summer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hire

2 of 2

noun

ˈhī(-ə)r

as in employ

the state of being provided with a paying job he spent most of his career in the hire of high-paying defense contractors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in salary

the money paid regularly to a person for labor or services used to mow lawns for hire

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word hire different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of hire are charter, lease, let, and rent. While all these words mean "to engage or grant for use at a price," hire and let, strictly speaking, are complementary terms, hire implying the act of engaging or taking for use and let the granting of use.

we hired a car for the summer

decided to let the cottage to a young couple

In what contexts can charter take the place of hire?

The synonyms charter and hire are sometimes interchangeable, but charter applies to the hiring or letting of a vehicle usually for exclusive use.

charter a bus to go to the game

When can lease be used instead of hire?

The words lease and hire can be used in similar contexts, but lease strictly implies a letting under the terms of a contract but is often applied to hiring on a lease.

the diplomat leased an apartment for a year

When is it sensible to use rent instead of hire?

Although the words rent and hire have much in common, rent stresses the payment of money for the full use of property and may imply either hiring or letting.

instead of buying a house, they decided to rent

will not rent to families with children

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of hire

Verb

Jones said that Baldoni originally hired her to represent him. —

Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2024 The magazine has been in discussions to hire additional Washington Post journalists, two people with knowledge of the talks said. —

Benjamin Mullin, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024

Noun

In New York, a first-degree murder charge needs a special circumstance beyond intent, like the killing of a witness, being a murder for hire, the killing of a police officer or the killing of someone in furtherance of terrorism. —

Jonathan Dienst, NBC News, 19 Dec. 2024 This is Frost’s fourth official hire since his return Dec. 7. —

Matt Murschel, Orlando Sentinel, 17 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hire

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hire

Verb

The homes, whose construction complied with European Union's masonry standards, are set to be used as social housing and will be rented to people with low income or those who can't afford their own accommodation.

Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
The Egyptian government has yet again rented out the pyramids to the highest bidder—this time to American YouTuber MrBeast.

Francesca Aton for ArtNews, Robb Report, 19 Dec. 2024