hire
11 synonyms and 1 antonyms for hire, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To employ someone for pay, or to give someone a job.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use hire
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English hȳr, meaning wages or payment for a service, going back to a Proto-Germanic root for "payment."
Full origin of hire →Frequently asked questions
What does “hire” mean?
The word “hire” means to employ someone for pay, or to give someone a job.
How do you pronounce “hire”?
“Hire” is pronounced HEYE-uh (/haɪɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “hire” in a sentence?
Here is “hire” used in a sentence: “The startup hired three new engineers this month.”
What is the opposite of “hire”?
The opposite of “hire” — its antonyms — is fire.
What part of speech is “hire”?
Depending on how it is used, “hire” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “hire” come from?
The word “hire” comes from Old English. From Old English hȳr, meaning wages or payment for a service, going back to a Proto-Germanic root for "payment.".
Is “hire” a common word?
“Hire” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “hire” have?
“Hire” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to employ someone for pay, or to give someone a job.
What is the difference between hire and fire?
They are opposites in employment. To hire someone is to take them on and give them a paid job; to fire someone is to dismiss them and end their employment. A manager who hires builds the team, while firing removes a worker, usually for poor performance or redundancy.
What is the difference between hire and rent?
When talking about people, hire means to employ someone for pay. In British English, hire can also mean paying to use equipment or a vehicle for a short time, much like rent. Rent, though, is more often used for property such as a house or flat over a longer period.
What does it mean to hire someone?
To hire someone is to give them a job in exchange for wages or a salary. It covers the whole act of choosing a candidate, agreeing terms, and bringing them onto the payroll. Employers hire staff to fill roles, whether permanent, temporary, full-time, or part-time.