A slight trace or barely noticeable amount of something, often a taste, smell, feeling, color, or sign.
Usage
Use hint of for a tiny amount that can just be noticed, not for enough of something to dominate the whole situation.
Examples
The soup had a hint of garlic.
There was a hint of autumn in the cool air.
Her voice carried a hint of doubt.
The paint has a hint of blue in bright light.
The tea tasted of mint with a faint hint of lemon.
Common mistakes
Hint of is used for amounts that are too large or for exact measurements that need a different word.
Incorrect
Correct
The soup had a hint of salt because it tasted mostly salty.
The soup had too much salt.
Add a hint of flour, about two cups.
Add two cups of flour.
There was a hint of rain because the street was flooded.
There was heavy rain, and the street was flooded.
The room had a hint of perfume that filled every corner.
The room was filled with perfume.
Similar words
trace
touch
suggestion
tinge
dash
note
whiff
Suggest indirectly
verb
communication
neutral
To show or suggest something indirectly, without saying it fully or openly.
Usage
Use hint with a that-clause for an indirect message, and use hint at before the thing being suggested.
Examples
She hinted that she might apply for the job.
The article hinted at corruption in the department.
His reply hinted that the plan had changed.
The trailer hints at a darker story than the poster suggests.
The coach hinted about a new signing after the match.
Common mistakes
The past form hinted is missed, and at is often dropped before the suggested thing.
Incorrect
Correct
She hint that she wanted a new bike.
She hinted that she wanted a new bike.
The manager hinted possible layoffs.
The manager hinted at possible layoffs.
He hinted me the answer.
He gave me a hint about the answer.
The report hinted to a problem.
The report hinted at a problem.
Similar words
suggest
imply
indicate
allude
intimate
insinuate
signal
Usage
Use hint for indirectness: a clue that is not the full answer, a short tip, a barely noticeable trace, or a verb of suggesting without stating openly.
Common mistakes
A hint of sugar is correct for a tiny amount, but hint of does not fit a large or exact amount, and the verb often needs at.
Etymology
Of uncertain origin, probably an alteration of obsolete hent, an act of seizing, with the indirect-suggestion sense recorded from the early seventeenth century.
FAQ
What does hint mean?
Hint can mean an indirect clue, a helpful tip, a very small amount, or the act of suggesting something indirectly.
What does a hint of mean?
A hint of means a very small, barely noticeable amount, as in a hint of garlic.
Is a hint of sugar correct?
A hint of sugar is correct when it means a tiny amount of sugar.
What does hint at mean?
To hint at something means to suggest it indirectly without stating it fully.
What does take a hint mean?
To take a hint means to understand an indirect message and act on it.
What is the past tense of hint?
The past tense of hint is hinted.
What are synonyms for hint?
Common synonyms include clue, suggestion, tip, indication, trace, and cue.
What is the origin of hint?
The origin of hint is uncertain, but it is probably related to obsolete hent, an act of seizing.
Comments & contributions
Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
Newest
Top
Active
Tawny Iguana
Jul 8
my family drops hints with the subtlety of a brick lol
0
Reply
Contribution
Silver Loon
Jun 28
A hint of an accent is a normal phrase and it is not rude by itself. It means slight, like you can hear maybe where someone is from but it is not strong.
2
Reply
Contribution
Hidden Lynx
Jun 27
In software, a hint is often advice the system may ignore. SQL optimizer hints and font hinting are not little social clues, more like extra guidance for how to process something.
2
Reply
Contribution
Jovial Kingfisher
Jun 25
Drop hints feels intentional. If your friend leaves a ring catalog open on purpose, they are dropping hints. If you just notice they sound tired, that is more like there was a hint of tiredness in their voice.
4
Reply
Contribution
Perky Gull
Jun 24
Take a hint is usually a bit pointed. If someone says cant you take a hint?, they are already annoyed, or they think you should have noticed they wanted you to stop.
5
Reply
Spry Gazelle
Jun 25
also why it shows up so much around unwanted flirting
1
Contribution
Jovial Gull
Jun 14
If you are asking a person for help, dont say hint me the answer. Say can you give me a hint? or just any hint? Game buttons can say show hint because that is button language, but hint me sounds like an app command or a joke.
7
Reply
Quiet Giraffe
Jun 19
yeah, hint me is understandable but it has that nonnative smell right away