WordGarden.iohot
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /hˈɒt/
US
- /ˈhɑt/
Meanings
Adjective
having a high temperature or feeling very warm
spicy or producing a burning taste
intense, exciting, popular, or currently attracting attention
More meaningsFewer meanings
(informal)sexually attractive
(informal)stolen, illegal, or risky because police may be looking for it
electrically live and capable of delivering a dangerous voltage or current
radioactive or dangerously contaminated with radioactive material
operating or activated in a hazardous technical state
Beyond the definition
"Hot" is often about temperature, but not always. It can describe something with a lot of heat, like a hot oven or a hot summer day. It can also mean spicy, like a hot pepper that makes your mouth burn. In casual speech, "hot" can mean very attractive, and it can also describe something that is popular and exciting, like a hot new song or trend. In some situations, "hot" means illegal or stolen, especially when people talk about goods or property. The context usually makes the meaning clear.
The word "hot" primarily describes high temperature—think of a scorching desert sun ("It was a hot day!") or freshly baked cookies straight from the oven ("Be careful, the pan is hot!"). But its versatility extends far beyond just physical heat.
"Hot" can also describe something spicy and flavorful, particularly in food. A chili pepper is considered "hot" because of capsaicin, the chemical that creates a burning sensation. You might say a curry is "really hot" if it contains a lot of spice.
However, "hot" takes on an entirely different meaning when used to describe someone's appearance or something trendy. In this context, "hot" means attractive, appealing, or fashionable—like saying a celebrity is "looking hot" on the red carpet. It can also be used to describe something that's currently popular and exciting: "That new band is really hot right now!"
There is also another common use: "hot" can mean illegal, suspicious, or stolen. If someone says a phone or a car is "hot," they may mean it was stolen or is connected to crime. In a similar way, people sometimes describe a person as "hot" when the police are looking for them, though this meaning depends more on context.
Historically, "hot" comes from Old English roots meaning burning or fiery. This original sense of intense heat still underlies all its modern meanings—whether it's physical temperature, spicy flavor, or passionate attraction.
So next time you hear the word "hot," remember to consider the context. Is someone warning you about a stove, recommending a spicy dish, talking about a popular new artist, or hinting that something may be stolen? The meaning is almost always determined by the topic being discussed.
Examples
- 1
Temperature warning
Be careful, the soup is still hot.
- 2
Weather
It gets really hot here in August.
- 3
Spicy food
I like hot food, but this curry is too hot for me.
- 4
Fever symptom
I think you should lie down; your forehead feels hot.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Temper
He has a hot temper, so even small problems can make him angry.
- Phrasehot temper
a tendency to get angry quickly
- 6
News topic
AI is still a hot topic in the news.
- Phrasehot topic
something many people are talking about
- 7
Popular place
That restaurant is so hot right now that you have to book days in advance.
- 8
Winning streak
The team is hot right now and hasn't lost in weeks.
See also
Forms and spellings
6 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- hotverbadjective
Forms
- hottestsuperlativeadjectiveverb
- hottercomparativeadjectiveverb
- hotsverbadjective
- hotting-ing formverbadjective
- hottedpast tenseverbadjective