hat

American  

[hat] / hæt /

noun

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

• hatless adjective
• hatlessness noun
• hatlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of hat

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

Example Sentences

Crouch, who walks with the aid of a cane, proudly wore a hat proclaiming that he was a veteran of the Vietnam war.

From Barron's

A tall kid with long black hair wearing a sheepskin-lined jean jacket, big silver belt buckle, and a black cowboy hat was looking around the grounds, obviously befuddled.

From Literature

November seeps into December and people replace their gourds and pumpkins with Santa hats and snowmen.

From Literature

Pence still has blond hair sticking out from the back of his hat after he recently got his hair cut.

From Los Angeles Times

There is also a picture that was posted in April 2025, of him wearing what appears to be Meta's Ray Ban branded smart glasses and a hat traditionally found on the East African coast.

From BBC

Related Words

• fedora
• headgear
• helmet