hot
hot
Hot (adj) means having or giving off a high temperature. Example: “Be careful, the stove is still hot.”
adj
1
Having or giving off a high temperature.
"Be careful, the stove is still hot."
"It was a hot, humid afternoon in July."
"Pour the hot water slowly into the teapot."
2
Very attractive or sexually appealing.
"Everyone agreed the new actor was hot."
3
Extremely popular, in demand, or currently exciting.
"Tickets for the hot new show sold out in minutes."
"That neighborhood has become a hot market for buyers."
"Wireless headphones are the hot item in every shop this winter."
4
Spicy or pungent in taste.
"He added extra chili because he likes his food hot."
"The curry was so hot that I needed a glass of milk."
"Do you prefer mild salsa or hot salsa on your nachos?"
5
Live, active, or ready for use — for example, a hot microphone or a live electrical wire.
"Be careful with the studio microphone; it's hot, so everyone can hear you."
"The electrician warned us that the cable was hot and must not be touched."
"Don't touch that wire, it's hot."
How to use hot
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHaving a high temperature — and by extension, exciting, popular, attractive, spicy, or electrically live, depending on context.
When to use it
The "attractive" and "very good" senses are informal — fine in everyday speech but avoid them in formal writing.
Common pairings
hot weather
hot topic
hot sauce
red hot
hot off the press
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like hot.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- hots
- Third person singular
- hots
- Past tense
- hotted
- Comparative
- hotter
- Superlative
- hottest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Be careful, the stove is still _____.
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.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for hot
See all rhymes for 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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include hot:
