hole
hohl
Hole (noun) means a hollow space or opening in something solid, or a gap that goes all the way through. Example: “She dug a hole in the garden to plant the tree.”
noun
1
A hollow space or opening in something solid, or a gap that goes all the way through.
"She dug a hole in the garden to plant the tree."
"There's a hole in your sock, right at the toe."
2
A flaw, weakness, or gap in an argument, plan, or system.
"The lawyer found a hole in the prosecution's case."
3
In golf, one of the numbered targets a player aims the ball into, or a full round segment of the course leading to it.
"He birdied the ninth hole to take the lead."
How to use hole
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn empty gap or opening — literal (in the ground, a wall, clothing) or figurative (in a plan or argument).
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "whole" (complete) — they sound identical but mean opposite things.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
dig a hole
poke a hole in
hole in one
black hole
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Word forms
- Plural
- holes
- Third person singular
- holes
- Past tense
- holed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She dug a _____ in the garden to plant the tree.
Etymology
From Old English hol, meaning "hollow place or cavity," from a very old Germanic root related to the word "hollow."
Related words
Rhymes for hole
See all rhymes for hole →Frequently asked questions
What does “hole” mean?
The word “hole” means a hollow space or opening in something solid, or a gap that goes all the way through. In plain terms, an empty gap or opening — literal (in the ground, a wall, clothing) or figurative (in a plan or argument).
How do you pronounce “hole”?
“Hole” is pronounced hohl (/hoʊl/ in IPA).
How do you use “hole” in a sentence?
Here is “hole” used in a sentence: “She dug a hole in the garden to plant the tree.”
What part of speech is “hole”?
“Hole” is a noun.
Where does the word “hole” come from?
The word “hole” comes from Old English. From Old English hol, meaning "hollow place or cavity," from a very old Germanic root related to the word "hollow.".
Is “hole” a common word?
“Hole” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “hole” have?
“Hole” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a hollow space or opening in something solid, or a gap that goes all the way through.
What is the difference between 'hole' and 'whole'?
They sound alike but mean opposite things. A hole is an opening, gap, or hollow space in something. Whole means complete or entire, with nothing missing, as in the whole cake. A simple reminder: a doughnut has a hole in the middle, but you might eat the whole thing.
What are the different types of holes?
Holes take many forms: a pit or hollow dug in the ground, a puncture or tear in fabric, a bore that passes right through an object, or a burrow where an animal lives. Figuratively, a hole can also mean a tricky situation or a flaw in an argument.
What is an example of 'hole' in a sentence?
Everyday examples include "There's a hole in my sock," "They dug a hole for the fence post," and "The mouse vanished into a hole in the wall." Used figuratively, "His story had a hole in it" points to a gap or weakness in someone's reasoning.
What is the opposite of a hole?
There is no single opposite. For a raised area rather than a sunken one, you might use bump, bulge, or protrusion. For something that closes or fills a gap, plug, fill, or solid work well. In the sense of completeness, its homophone whole is the natural contrast.
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