What does "hey" mean?
A choreographic figure in which three or more dancers weave between one another, passing by left and right shoulder alternately.
Hey
/heɪ/ intj, name, noun, verb, slang
intj, name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A choreographic figure in which three or more dancers weave between one another, passing by left and right shoulder alternately.
- Grammar: hey is listed as intj, name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: addressing cue, ahem, ahoy, aloha.
- Useful contrasts: calm, farewell, goodbye.
- Usage evidence: Hey, I may have no money, but I still have my pride.
How to use "hey"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "hey" 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 "hey" 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 "hey" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "hey" 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 "hey" is acting as intj, name, 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 "addressing cue" 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 "hey", 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 A choreographic figure in which three or more dancers weave between one another, passing by left and right shoulder alternately. informal
- 2 Alternative spelling of he (“Hebrew letter”). alt-of, alternative, informal
Verb
- 1 To greet with a "hey" informal
Intj
- 1 An exclamation to get attention. informal
"Hey, look at this!"
- 2 A protest or reprimand. informal
"Hey! Stop that!"
- 3 An expression of surprise. informal
"Hey! This is new!"
- 4 An informal greeting, similar to hi. informal
"Hey! How's it going?"
- 5 A request for repetition or explanation; an expression of confusion. informal
"Hey? How's that?"
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 Used as a tag question, to emphasise what goes before or to request that the listener express an opinion about what has been said. informal
""Who 's a cur - now - hey?""
- 7 A meaningless beat marker or extra, filler syllable in song lyrics. informal
"The chorus is "nana na na, nana na na hey hey hey, goodbye"."
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Example
"Hey, I may have no money, but I still have my pride."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "hey"?
Common synonyms include: addressing cue, ahem, ahoy, aloha, amigo, andersen.
How do you use "hey" in a sentence?
Hey, I may have no money, but I still have my pride.
How do you pronounce "hey"?
Pronounced /heɪ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English hey, hei, also without h- in ey, from Old English *hē, ēa (interjection), attested as first element in hēlā, ēalā (“O!, alas!, oh!, lo!”). Cognate with Dutch hé, hei (“hi, hey”), German hei (“hey, wow”), Danish and Swedish hej (“hello, hey”), Faroese hey (“hey, hello”), Old Norse, Icelandic and Norwegian hei (“hey”), Polish hej (“hey, hello”), Romanian hei, Russian эй (ej, “hey”); see heigh. Probably a natural expression, as may be inferred from its presence with similar meaning in many other unrelated languages: for example, Burmese ဟေး (he:), Finnish hei, Unami hè, and Mandarin 哎 (āi), and various sound-alikes as Ancient Greek εἶα (eîa) and Latin eia, eho, Sanskrit हे (he). See also hello.
Etymology 2
From French haie (“hedge”), with reference to the weaving patterns used in hedgelaying. Doublet of hedge and quay.
Etymology 3
See he.