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.
hails 1 of 3
verb
1
as in applauds
to declare enthusiastic approval of the museum director hailed the artist's new installation as a groundbreaking work of genius Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- applauds
- praises
- acclaims
- commends
- salutes
- lauds
- touts
- cheers
- endorses
- accredits
- approves
- celebrates
- cracks up
- recommends
- claps
- extols
- sings
- eulogizes
- doffs one's cap to
- favors
- doffs one's hat to
- supports
- bravoes
- emblazons
- idolizes
- extolls
- ballyhoos
- glorifies
- indorses
- flatters
- magnifies
- deifies
- rises (to)
- adulates
- overpraises
- belauds
- roots (for)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- knocks
- slams
- blames
- disparages
- belittles
- criticizes
- pans
- chides
- admonishes
- rebukes
- censures
- lambasts
- reproves
- reprehends
- castigates
- puts down
- reprimands
- excoriates
- lambastes
- reproaches
- discommends
- vilifies
- reprobates
- slags
- skewers
- keelhauls
2
as in summons
to demand or request the presence or service of let's hail a taxi hailed the waiter for the check Synonyms & Similar Words
- summons
- calls
- asks
- invites
- cites
- requests
- sends for
- orders
- assembles
- invokes
- beckons
- convenes
- demands
- calls out
- subpoenas
- rings
- musters
- bids
- calls up
- convokes
- whistles
- buzzes
- commands
- requisitions
- pages
- knells
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dismisses
- sends (away)
- banishes
- ejects
- expels
- boots (out)
- outs
- ousts
- turns away
- routs
- kicks out
- throws out
- drums (out)
- casts out
- turfs (out)
- runs off
hails
2 of 3noun (1)
1
as in barrages
a heavy fall of objects a hail of small stones warned them of the oncoming avalanche Synonyms & Similar Words
- barrages
- rains
- showers
- floods
- storms
- volleys
- gushes
- rushes
- torrents
- salvos
- cannonades
- bombardments
- fusillades
- salvoes
- spates
- outbursts
- broadsides
- outbreaks
- eruptions
2
as in flurries
a rapid or overwhelming outpouring of many things at once even under the hail of angry questions, the press secretary stayed cool Synonyms & Similar Words
- barrages
- flurries
- volleys
- floods
- bombardments
- salvos
- cannonades
- showers
- fusillades
- drumbeats
- blitzkriegs
- torrents
- tides
- storms
- surges
- blitzes
- gushes
- drumfires
- salvoes
- streams
- bursts
- overflows
- flushes
- outbursts
- outpourings
- rashes
- flood tides
- avalanches
- discharges
- deluges
- rivers
- earfuls
- inundations
- outflows
- spates
- cataracts
- excesses
- surpluses
- cataclysms
- broadsides
- currents
- gluts
- engulfments
- overabundances
- overmuch
- oversupplies
- surfeits
- superabundances
- overkills
- overages
- superfluities
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- trickles
- drips
- dribbles
hails
3 of 3noun (2)
as in sounds
range of hearing stay within hail of the restaurant's front desk so you'll know when your table is ready Synonyms & Similar Words
- sounds
- hearings
- distances
- sights
- volumes
- hydrogenise
- hydrogenised
- hydrogenises
- hydrogenising
- hydrogenium
- hydrogenizations
- hydrogenize
- hydrogenized
- hydrogenizes
- hydrogenizing
- hydrogenolyses
- hydrogenolysis
- Hydrogenomonas
- hydrogenous
- hydrogens
- hydrogeologies
- hydrogeologist
- hydrogeologists
- hydrogeology
- hydroglider
- hydrognosy
- hydrograph
- hydrographer
- hydrographers
- hydrographic