hail
1 of 5noun (1)
ˈhāl 
1
: precipitation in the form of small balls or lumps usually consisting of concentric layers of clear ice and compact snow
2
: something that gives the effect of a shower of hail
a hail of rifle fire
hail
2 of 5verb (1)
hailed; hailing; hails
intransitive verb
1
: to precipitate hail (see hail entry 1)
it was hailing hard
2
: to pour down or strike like hail
Bullets were hailing down on them.
hail
3 of 5verb (2)
hailed; hailing; hails
transitive verb
1
a
: to greet with enthusiastic approval : acclaim
hailed as a great success
b
: salute, greet
returning soldiers hailed with parades
2
: to greet or summon by calling
hail a taxi
intransitive verb
: to call out
especially : to call a greeting to a passing ship
hailer
ˈhā-lər
noun hail
4 of 5interjection
1
—used to express acclamation
hail to the chief
Sir Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott2
archaic —used as a salutation
hail
5 of 5noun (2)
1
: an exclamation of greeting or acclamation
greeted the emperor with a hail
2
: a calling to attract attention
3
: hearing distance
stayed within hail
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- rain
- shower
- storm
Verb (2)
- acclaim
- accredit
- applaud
- cheer
- crack up
- laud
- praise
- salute
- tout
Noun (2)
- earshot
- hearing
- sound
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1) and Verb (1)
Middle English, from Old English hægl; akin to Old High German hagal hail
Interjection, Verb (2), and Noun (2)
Middle English, from Old Norse heill, from heill healthy — more at whole
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (2)
13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1b
Interjection
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Noun (2)
1500, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing hail
Kids Definition
hail 1 of 3
noun
ˈhāl
1
: small lumps of ice and snow that fall from the clouds sometimes during thunderstorms
2
: volley entry 1 sense 1
a hail of bullets
hail
2 of 3verb
hailed; hailing
1
: to fall as hail
It's hailing hard.
2
: to pour down like hail Confetti hailed on the parade.
hail
3 of 3verb
hailed; hailing
1
: greet sense 1, welcome The town hailed the returning soldiers.
2
: to call out to
I'll hail a taxi.
hailing
verb
1
as in praising
to declare enthusiastic approval of the museum director hailed the artist's new installation as a groundbreaking work of genius Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- praising
- applauding
- acclaiming
- commending
- lauding
- saluting
- cheering
- touting
- endorsing
- accrediting
- clapping
- approving
- celebrating
- cracking up
- recommending
- extolling
- favoring
- ballyhooing
- eulogizing
- doffing one's cap to
- doffing one's hat to
- supporting
- singing
- emblazoning
- adulating
- indorsing
- glorifying
- flattering
- overpraising
- idolizing
- rising (to)
- deifying
- magnifying
- bravoing
- belauding
- rooting (for)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- knocking
- slamming
- disparaging
- panning
- belittling
- blaming
- criticizing
- chiding
- admonishing
- censuring
- rebuking
- castigating
- lambasting
- reproaching
- reprimanding
- excoriating
- reprobating
- vilifying
- putting down
- reproving
- slagging
- reprehending
- skewering
- discommending
- keelhauling
2
as in summoning
to demand or request the presence or service of let's hail a taxi hailed the waiter for the check Synonyms & Similar Words
- summoning
- calling
- asking
- inviting
- requesting
- citing
- sending for
- ordering
- assembling
- invoking
- ringing
- beckoning
- convening
- demanding
- bidding
- mustering
- whistling
- calling out
- commanding
- convoking
- buzzing
- calling up
- subpoenaing
- requisitioning
- paging
- knelling
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dismissing
- sending (away)
- turning away
- banishing
- ejecting
- expelling
- routing
- ousting
- outing
- kicking out
- drumming (out)
- throwing out
- booting (out)
- casting out
- turfing (out)
- running off