hat

American  

[hat] / hæt /

noun

hats plural

1. a shaped covering for the head, usually with a crown and brim, especially for wear outdoors.

2. Roman Catholic Church.

   1. the distinctive head covering of a cardinal.

   2. the office or dignity of a cardinal.

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verb (used with object)

hatted, hatting

1. to provide with a hat; put a hat on.

idioms

1. wear two / several hats, to function in more than one capacity; fill two or more positions.

   He wears two hats, serving as the company's comptroller as well as its chief executive officer.

2. take off one's hat to, to express high regard for; praise.

   We took off our hats to their courage and daring.

3. talk through one's hat, to speak without knowing the facts; make unsupported or incorrect statements.

   He is talking through his hat when he says he'll make the team.

4. throw / toss one's hat in the ring, to become a participant in a contest, especially to declare one's candidacy for political office.

   His friends are urging him to throw his hat in the ring.

5. under one's hat, confidential; private; secret.

   I'll tell you the real story, but keep it under your hat.

6. hat in hand, humbly; respectfully.

   He approached the boss, hat in hand.

7. pass the hat, to ask for contributions of money, as for charity; take up a collection.

   The lodge members passed the hat to send underprivileged children to summer camp.

hat British  

/ hæt /

noun

1. 1. any of various head coverings, esp one with a brim and a shaped crown

   2. ( in combination )

      hatrack

2. informal a role or capacity

3. without hesitation or delay

4. informal I will be greatly surprised if (something that proves me wrong) happens

   I'll eat my hat if this book comes out late

5. humbly or servilely

6. to keep something secret

7. informal (interjection)

   1. my word! my goodness!

   2. nonsense!

8. something stale or old-fashioned

9. 1. as if by magic

   2. at random

10. to collect money, as for a cause

11. to admire or congratulate

12. 1. to talk foolishly

    2. to deceive or bluff

13. to give up all hope of getting or achieving something

    you can throw your hat at it now

14. to announce one's intentions to be a candidate or contestant

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verb

1. (tr) to supply (a person, etc) with a hat or put a hat on (someone)

hat More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing hat

• at the drop of a hat
• brass hat
• cap
• eat one's hat
• hang on to your hat
• hang up (one's hat)
• hard hat
• hats off to
• keep under one's hat
• knock into a cocked hat
• pass the hat
• pull out of a hat
• take one's hat off to
• talk through one's hat
• throw one's hat in the ring
• wear another hat

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• hatlessness
  noun
• hatless
  adjective
• hatlike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• hats
  plural

Etymology

Origin of hat

before 900; Middle English; Old English hætt; cognate with Old Norse hǫttr hood; akin to hood ¹

Example Sentences

Still, Reitzes—like most of his peers—remains laser-focused on software, including Red Hat.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

As AI applications explode in popularity, Reitzes contended, IBM could see an “unexpected surprise” regarding its flagship public cloud offering, Red Hat OpenShift on IBM Cloud.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

International Business Machines and Red Hat have committed $5 billion to establish a new model for open-source software, aiming to secure software supply chains for enterprises.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

The feature will allow visitors to relive the famous moment where protagonist Harry experiences the Sorting Hat.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

He was wearing a Medicine Hat baseball cap and a black Medicine Hat T-shirt.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• fedora
• headgear
• helmet