noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

hail

hayl

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Hail (noun) means Small, hard balls of ice that fall from the sky during a storm. Example: “The hail came down so hard that we could not hear the radio.”

noun

Small, hard balls of ice that fall from the sky during a storm.

"The hail came down so hard that we could not hear the radio."

"The hail dented the roof of every car parked outside."

"They ran for cover when the hail started hammering the windshield."

A large number of things arriving quickly and forcefully, one after another.

"The actor stepped off the stage into a hail of questions from reporters."

"The politician faced a hail of criticism after the interview."

"A hail of arrows flew over the castle wall."

verb

To greet someone or call out to get their attention, often to praise or welcome them.

"The crowd hailed the returning team with cheers and waving flags."

"Fans hailed the goalkeeper as a hero after the final save."

"He hailed a taxi from the corner of the street."

To come from a particular place originally.

"My grandmother hails from a village in the hills of Wales."

"She hails from a small fishing town in Scotland."

"The band's lead singer hails from Dublin."

How to use hail

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither icy rain pellets, a fast burst of things coming at you, or a way of calling out to greet someone or say where they're from.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "hale," which describes someone in good health.

Easily confused with

hale → sleet →

Common pairings

hail a taxi a hail of bullets hail from somewhere hail as a hero

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: hails
Third person singular: hails
Past tense: hailed
Comparative: hailer
Superlative: hailest

Test yourself on “hail” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ came down so hard that we could not hear the radio.

Etymology

From Old English hægl ("hail"), an ancient Germanic word for icy precipitation, related to a very old root meaning "pebble" or "cold." The greeting sense comes from a separate but similarly old use of "hail" as a shout of welcome.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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greet salute acclaim welcome flag down barrage herald come

Antonyms

boo

Related words

go come number meet follow amount fall welcome

Rhymes for hail

rail tail pail mail nail sail fail jail vail bail wail quail

See all rhymes for hail →

Frequently asked questions

What does “hail” mean?

The word “hail” means small, hard balls of ice that fall from the sky during a storm. In plain terms, either icy rain pellets, a fast burst of things coming at you, or a way of calling out to greet someone or say where they're from.

How do you pronounce “hail”?

“Hail” is pronounced hayl (/heɪl/ in IPA).

How do you use “hail” in a sentence?

Here is “hail” used in a sentence: “The hail dented the roof of every car parked outside.”

What part of speech is “hail”?

Depending on how it is used, “hail” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “hail” come from?

The word “hail” comes from Old English.

Is “hail” a common word?

“Hail” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “hail” have?

“Hail” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: small, hard balls of ice that fall from the sky during a storm.

What is the difference between hail and sleet?

Hail consists of small, hard balls of ice that form in storm clouds and fall during storms, often in warmer weather, while sleet is a mix of rain and partly melted snow or small ice pellets that forms in cold conditions. They develop differently and appear in different weather.

What is the difference between hail and hale?

These are homophones with unrelated meanings: hail refers to falling ice or to greeting and calling out, while hale is an adjective meaning healthy and strong, as in "hale and hearty." They should not be swapped for each other.

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