What does "hello" mean?
"Hello!" or an equivalent greeting.
Hello
/hɛˈloʊ/ intj, noun, verb, slang
intj, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: "Hello!" or an equivalent greeting.
- Grammar: hello is listed as intj, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: accost, address, ah, ahoy.
- Useful contrasts: adieu, adiós, calm.
- Usage evidence: Hello, I have a reservation, my name is Kaori Yoshikawa. Here is the confirmation card.
How to use "hello"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "hello" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "hello" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "hello" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "hello" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "hello" is acting as intj, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "accost" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "hello", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 "Hello!" or an equivalent greeting.
"They gave each other a quick hello when they met, and went back on their merry ways."
- 2 an expression of greeting wordnet
Verb
- 1 To greet with "hello". transitive
"She is there guarding and looking after the candy and the children generally, and she helloes and renders an exclamation that Maidie is crossing the street."
Intj
- 1 A greeting (salutation) said when meeting someone or acknowledging someone’s arrival or presence.
"Hello, everyone."
- 2 A greeting used when answering the telephone.
"Hello? How may I help you?"
- 3 A call for response if it is not clear if anyone is present or listening, or if a telephone conversation may have been disconnected.
"Hello? Is anyone there?"
- 4 Used sarcastically to imply that the person addressed has done something the speaker considers to be foolish, or missed something that should have been obvious. colloquial
"You just tried to start your car with your cell phone. Hello?"
- 5 An expression of puzzlement or discovery. UK
"Hello! What’s going on here?"
Antonyms
Example
"Hello, I have a reservation, my name is Kaori Yoshikawa. Here is the confirmation card."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "hello"?
Common synonyms include: accost, address, ah, ahoy, aloha, alright.
How do you use "hello" in a sentence?
Hello, I have a reservation, my name is Kaori Yoshikawa. Here is the confirmation card.
How do you pronounce "hello"?
Pronounced /hɛˈloʊ/.
Etymology
Hello (first attested in 1826), from holla, hollo (attested 1588). This variant of hallo is often credited to Thomas Edison as a coinage for telephone use, but its appearance in print predates the invention of the telephone by several decades. Ultimately from a variant of Old English ēalā, such as hēlā, which was used colloquially at the time similarly to how hey and (in some dialects) hi are used nowadays. Thus, equivalent to a compound of hey and lo. Used when drawing attention to yourself. Possibly influenced by Old Saxon halo!, imperative of halōn (“to call, fetch”), used in hailing a ferryman, akin to Old High German hala, hola!, imperative forms of halōn, holōn (“to fetch”). More at hallo. OED and Merriam-Webster also suggested that it is a variant of holla, a variant of holloo. Further beyond, the origin remains uncertain. OED and Merriam-Webster suggested that it has a connection between hallow (“to shout, to cry out loud”), which came from Old French holloer, which, according to Altfranzösisches Wörterbuch, is from Old Saxon halōn.