Hail — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb interjection /ˈhāl/

Meaning & Definition of Hail

Hail (noun)

  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
  3. an exclamation of greeting or acclamation
  4. a calling to attract attention
  5. hearing distance

Hail (verb)

  1. to precipitate hail
  2. to pour down or strike like hail
  3. to greet with enthusiastic approval, acclaim
  4. salute, greet
  5. to greet or summon by calling

Hail (interjection)

  1. —used to express acclamation
  2. —used as a salutation

Hail (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to declare enthusiastic approval of

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

    similar: acclaim, accredit, applaud, cheer, crack up, laud, praise, salute, tout, doff one's hat to
    related: bravo, clap, rise (to), ballyhoo, approve, commend, endorse, favor, recommend, root (for), support, celebrate, emblazon, eulogize, extol, glorify, magnify, sing, adulate, belaud, flatter, overpraise, deify, idolize
    opposite: knock, pan, slam
    near: belittle, discommend, disparage, put down, blame, censure, reprehend, reprobate, admonish, chide, criticize, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove, castigate, excoriate, keelhaul, lambaste, skewer, slag (chiefly British), vilify

  2. to demand or request the presence or service of

    "let's hail a taxi"

    "hailed the waiter for the check"

    similar: call, summon, send for
    related: cite, subpoena, assemble, call out, call up, convene, convoke, muster, ask, bid, invite, command, order, request, requisition, beckon, demand, invoke, buzz, knell, page, ring, whistle
    near: dismiss, send (away), turn away, banish, boot (out), cast out, drum (out), eject, expel, kick out, oust, out, rout, run off, throw out, turf (out) (chiefly British)

Hail (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a heavy fall of objects

    "a hail of small stones warned them of the oncoming avalanche"

    similar: rain, shower, storm
    related: barrage, bombardment, broadside, cannonade, fusillade, salvo, volley, flood, gush, rush, spate, torrent, eruption, outbreak, outburst

  2. a rapid or overwhelming outpouring of many things at once

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

    similar: barrage, blitz, blitzkrieg, bombardment, cannonade, drumbeat, drumfire, flurry, fusillade, salvo, shower, storm, volley
    related: broadside, earful, avalanche, burst, cataclysm, cataract, deluge, discharge, engulfment, flood, flood tide, flush, gush, inundation, outburst, outflow, outpouring, overflow, rash, spate, surge, torrent, current, river, stream, tide, excess, glut, overabundance, overage, overkill, overmuch, oversupply, superabundance, superfluity, surfeit, surplus
    near: dribble, drip, trickle

  3. range of hearing

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

    similar: earshot, hearing, sound
    related: volume, distance, sight

Related Entry: Hail-fellow (adjective)

Hail-fellow is a different word from Hail. The synonyms below are for hail-fellow, not for hail.

  1. having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest

    "has the hail-fellow manner of an automobile salesman with something up his sleeve"

    similar: amicable, bonhomous, buddy-buddy, chummy, collegial, companionable, comradely, cordial, friendly, genial, hail-fellow-well-met, hearty, matey (chiefly British), neighborly, palsy, palsy-walsy (slang), warm, warmhearted
    related: affable, agreeable, approachable, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, nice, sweet, clubby, convivial, folksy, gregarious, hospitable, sociable, social, jolly, jovial, merry, extroverted, outgoing, brotherly, fraternal, sisterly, close, familiar, intimate, adoring, affectionate, devoted, fond, lovesome, loving, tender, tenderhearted
    opposite: antagonistic, hostile, unfriendly
    near: alienated, estranged, chilly, cold, cold-blooded, cool, frigid, frosty, glacial, icy, wintry, unsociable, unsocial, aggressive, argumentative, bellicose, belligerent, combative, contentious, disputatious, pugnacious, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent, inhospitable, inimical

Related Entry: Hail-fellow-well-met (adjective)

Hail-fellow-well-met is a different word from Hail. The synonyms below are for hail-fellow-well-met, not for hail.

  1. having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest

    "a hail-fellow-well-met politician who genuinely enjoys pressing the flesh"

    similar: amicable, bonhomous, buddy-buddy, chummy, collegial, companionable, comradely, cordial, friendly, genial, hail-fellow, hearty, matey (chiefly British), neighborly, palsy, palsy-walsy (slang), warm, warmhearted
    related: affable, agreeable, approachable, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, nice, sweet, clubby, convivial, folksy, gregarious, hospitable, sociable, social, jolly, jovial, merry, extroverted, outgoing, brotherly, fraternal, sisterly, close, familiar, intimate, adoring, affectionate, devoted, fond, lovesome, loving, tender, tenderhearted
    opposite: antagonistic, hostile, unfriendly
    near: alienated, estranged, chilly, cold, cold-blooded, cool, frigid, frosty, glacial, icy, wintry, unsociable, unsocial, aggressive, argumentative, bellicose, belligerent, combative, contentious, disputatious, pugnacious, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent, inhospitable, inimical

Related Entry: Hail-fellow-well-met (noun)

Hail-fellow-well-met is a different word from Hail. The synonyms below are for hail-fellow-well-met, not for hail.

  1. as in buddy, hail-fellow

    similar: buddy, chum, compadre, crony, fellow, hail-fellow, hearty, hobnobber, mate, musketeer, pal, amigo, friend, abettor, accomplice, ally, collaborator, colleague, comrade, confederate, friendly, partner, adherent, disciple, follower, backer, benefactor, exponent, supporter, sympathizer, well-wisher
    opposite: adversary, antagonist, enemy, foe, hostile, opponent, archenemy, archfoe, nemesis, ill-wisher

Related Entry: Hail-fellow (noun)

Hail-fellow is a different word from Hail. The synonyms below are for hail-fellow, not for hail.

  1. as in buddy, hail-fellow-well-met

    similar: buddy, chum, compadre, crony, fellow, hail-fellow-well-met, hearty, hobnobber, mate, musketeer, pal, amigo, friend, abettor, accomplice, ally, collaborator, colleague, comrade, confederate, friendly, partner, adherent, disciple, follower, backer, benefactor, exponent, supporter, sympathizer, well-wisher
    opposite: adversary, antagonist, enemy, foe, hostile, opponent, archenemy, archfoe, nemesis, ill-wisher

Related Entry: Hail-fellows-well-met (noun)

Hail-fellows-well-met is a different word from Hail. The synonyms below are for hail-fellows-well-met, not for hail.

  1. as in buddies, hail-fellows

    similar: buddies, chums, compadres, cronies, fellows, hail-fellows, hearties, hobnobbers, mates, musketeers, pals, amigos, friends, abettors, accomplices, allies, collaborators, colleagues, comrades, confederates, friendlies, partners, adherents, disciples, followers, backers, benefactors, exponents, supporters, sympathizers, well-wishers
    opposite: adversaries, antagonists, enemies, foes, hostiles, opponents, archenemies, archfoes, nemeses, ill-wishers

Related Entry: Hail-fellows (noun)

Hail-fellows is a different word from Hail. The synonyms below are for hail-fellows, not for hail.

  1. as in buddies, hail-fellows-well-met

    similar: buddies, chums, compadres, cronies, fellows, hail-fellows-well-met, hearties, hobnobbers, mates, musketeers, pals, amigos, friends, abettors, accomplices, allies, collaborators, colleagues, comrades, confederates, friendlies, partners, adherents, disciples, followers, backers, benefactors, exponents, supporters, sympathizers, well-wishers
    opposite: adversaries, antagonists, enemies, foes, hostiles, opponents, archenemies, archfoes, nemeses, ill-wishers

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Hail

The most common words with a similar meaning to Hail:

acclaim, accredit, applaud, cheer, crack up, laud, praise, salute, tout, call, summon, doff one's hat to, send for, rain, shower, storm, barrage, blitz, blitzkrieg, bombardment, cannonade, drumbeat, drumfire, flurry, fusillade, salvo, volley, earshot, hearing, sound

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Hail

Words with the opposite meaning of Hail:

knock, pan, slam

Related Words for Hail

bravo, clap, rise (to), ballyhoo, approve, commend, endorse, favor, recommend, root (for), support, celebrate, emblazon, eulogize, extol, glorify, magnify, sing, adulate, belaud, flatter, overpraise, deify, idolize, cite, subpoena, assemble, call out, call up, convene

Near Antonyms of Hail

belittle, discommend, disparage, put down, blame, censure, reprehend, reprobate, admonish, chide, criticize, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove, castigate, excoriate, keelhaul, lambaste, skewer, slag, vilify, dismiss, send (away), turn away, banish, boot (out), cast out, drum (out), eject

Word Forms of Hail

Inflections: hailed, hailing, hails

Derived words: hailer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Hail

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

First known use: before 12th century

Words & Phrases Containing Hail

hail-fellow, hail-fellow-well-met, hail from, Hail Mary, hail a taxi

Frequently Asked Questions about Hail

What does "Hail" mean?

"Hail" means precipitation in the form of small balls or lumps usually consisting of concentric layers of clear ice and compact snow. As an a noun, a verb and an interjection, it is defined as: precipitation in the form of small balls or lumps usually consisting of concentric layers of clear ice and compact snow. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Hail"?

Other words for "Hail" include acclaim, accredit, applaud, cheer, crack up, laud, praise and salute. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Hail" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Hail"?

There are 120 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Hail". Common alternatives include acclaim, accredit, applaud, cheer, crack up, laud, praise, salute, tout and call.

What is the opposite of "Hail"?

Antonyms of "Hail" include knock, pan and slam. Near antonyms include belittle, discommend, disparage and put down.

How do you use "Hail" in a sentence?

Examples of "Hail" in a sentence: "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".

Is "Hail" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Hail" can be used as a noun, a verb and an interjection, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Hail"?

"Hail" is pronounced /ˈhāl/.

What is the origin of the word "Hail"?

"Hail" comes from Middle English, from Old English hægl; akin to Old High German hagal hail. First known use: before 12th century.