Hint
/hɪnt/
A hint is a small piece of advice or a subtle indication that suggests something.
Examples
- Their smile was a hint of what was to come.
- The puzzle offered a hint for each level.
- He hinted that the project was delayed.
- She gave me a hint about the answer.
- I followed the hint to find the hidden door.
Meanings
From Old English hynt meaning ‘thought, intention’, related to hēan ‘to think’.
Examples
- She gave me a hint about the answer.
- He missed the hint in the email.
- The puzzle offered a hint for each level.
- I followed the hint to find the hidden door.
- Their smile was a hint of what was to come.
Derived from the noun hint with the verb suffix -ed, tracing back to Old English hyntan.
Examples
- He hinted that the project was delayed.
- She hints at a surprise in her speech.
- They were hinting at a new product launch.
- I hinted that I needed help.
- The teacher hinted at the correct answer.