hot
11 antonyms and opposites of hot, grouped by meaning.
Adj — Having or giving off a high temperature.
Antonyms
How to use hot
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
The "attractive" and "very good" senses are informal — fine in everyday speech but avoid them in formal writing.
Etymology
From Old English hat, going back to a Germanic root shared with "heat" — one of the oldest and most basic words in the language.
Full origin of hot →Frequently asked questions
What does “hot” mean?
The word “hot” means having or giving off a high temperature. In plain terms, having a high temperature — and by extension, exciting, popular, attractive, spicy, or electrically live, depending on context.
How do you pronounce “hot”?
“Hot” is pronounced hot (/hɑt/ in IPA).
How do you use “hot” in a sentence?
Here is “hot” used in a sentence: “Be careful, the stove is still hot.”
What is another word for “hot”?
Words with a similar meaning to “hot” include choleric and heated.
What is the opposite of “hot”?
The opposite of “hot” — its antonyms — are chilled, chilly, cold as ice, cold and freezing.
What part of speech is “hot”?
“Hot” is an adjective.
Where does the word “hot” come from?
The word “hot” comes from Old English. From Old English hat, going back to a Germanic root shared with "heat" — one of the oldest and most basic words in the language.
Is “hot” a common word?
“Hot” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between hot and warm?
Both describe temperature above cold, but hot is far more intense. Warm is a moderate, comfortable heat — a warm bath or a warm day feels pleasant. Hot means a high temperature that can feel uncomfortable or even burn, like a hot stove or a scorching afternoon. Hot is simply much warmer than warm.
What is the opposite of hot?
The direct opposite of hot is cold — a low temperature, the absence of heat. Between the two lie words like cool, mild, and warm, which describe the range in between. When talking about spicy food, the opposite of a hot dish is a mild one rather than a cold one.
Does 'hot' have other meanings besides temperature?
Yes, 'hot' has many figurative senses. Food can be hot in the sense of spicy, full of chilli heat. Something hot can be popular or trending, like a hot new film. In casual slang, hot can describe an attractive person, a topic of intense debate, or even stolen goods.