WordGarden.iohail
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /hˈeɪl/
US
- /ˈheɪl/
Meanings
Noun
small balls or pieces of ice that fall from storm clouds
a large number of things directed rapidly or forcefully
Verb
to fall as hail
to call out to someone or signal a vehicle to stop
to praise or acclaim someone or something publicly
More meaningsFewer meanings
to come from or have one's origin in a place
Beyond the definition
Hail can be both beautiful and a bit of a nuisance! Most commonly, it refers to small balls of ice that fall from storm clouds. But "hail" also has a much warmer meaning: it can mean to greet someone with enthusiasm and respect, like a king or a returning hero. You might "hail" a taxi to get the driver's attention, or say you "hail from" a certain city to describe where you come from. From icy weather to warm welcomes, "hail" covers several vivid kinds of arrival and recognition.
The word "hail" is wonderfully versatile, carrying several meanings. Most people immediately think of hail as precipitation: small balls or lumps of ice that fall from storm clouds. This kind of hail forms inside thunderstorm clouds when water droplets freeze and grow. It can range in size from tiny pellets to pieces large enough to cause damage, making it a force of nature to be reckoned with. ("The farmer worried that hail might ruin his crops.")
However, "hail" also functions as a verb meaning to greet someone or something enthusiastically. It can also extend to public praise; for example, a groundbreaking new invention might be "hailed" as a triumph of modern science. ("The crowd hailed the returning heroes with cheers and applause.")
Furthermore, you can "hail" someone or something to attract attention, like calling to a taxi or trying to flag down a passing ship. ("She hailed a cab on the busy street.") This sense emphasizes summoning or signaling. Closely related is the common phrase "hail from," which is used to indicate a person's place of origin. ("He hails from a small village in the mountains.")
Finally, "Hail!" is also an archaic exclamation used as a greeting, particularly in older literature and formal contexts—think "Hail to the King!"
So, whether it's frozen precipitation, a warm welcome, a call for attention, or a point of origin, "hail" is a word that encompasses both the power of nature and the breadth of human connection.
Examples
- 1
Weather event
It started to hail just as we were leaving the park.
- 2
Crop damage
The crops were badly damaged by hail last spring.
- 3
Taxi
We waited outside the station and tried to hail a taxi.
- Phrasehail a taxi
call to make it stop for you
- 4
Getting attention
Someone across the street was hailing us, but we couldn't hear him.
- Patternhail + person
call out to get their attention
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Origin
She hails from a small town in Ireland.
- Patternhail from + place
come from that place
- 6
Public praise
The discovery was hailed as a major breakthrough.
- Patternhail X as Y
publicly praise or describe X as Y
- 7
Many at once
After the policy change, the company received a hail of complaints online.
- Phrasea hail of
many things coming quickly
See also
Similar
- hailstones
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- hail storm
- heavy hail
- golf-ball-sized hail
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- hailnounverb
Forms
- hailedpast tenseverbnoun
- hailing-ing formverbnoun
- hailsverbnoun