hence

[ hens ]

/ hɛns /

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See synonyms for hence on Thesaurus.com

adverb

as an inference from this fact; for this reason; therefore: The eggs were very fresh and hence satisfactory.

from this time; from now: They will leave a month hence.

from this source or origin.

Archaic.

from this place; from here; away: The inn is but a quarter mile hence.
from this world or from the living: After a long, hard life they were taken hence.
henceforth; from this time on.

interjection

Obsolete. depart (usually used imperatively).

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of hence

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English hens, hennes, equivalent to henne (Old English heonan ) + -es adverb suffix; see -s¹

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH hence

hence , hither, thence, thither, whence, whither, yon

Words nearby hence

hen, Henan, hen-and-chickens, henbane, henbit, hence, henceforth, Hench, henchman, hencoop, hendeca-

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use hence in a sentence

“Hence, there might be a net benefit, at least to some females, of breeding within the natal group,” the researchers speculate.
Mongooses, Meerkats, and Ants, Oh My! Why Some Animals Keep Mating All in the Family|Helen Thompson|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hence, I suspect, the panic, the lockdown, the capitulation.
Pyongyang Shuffle: Hollywood In Dead Panic Over Sony Hack|James Poulos|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hence the recent Kerry trip to Rome to meet with Netanyahu and meetings with Europeans and Palestinians.
Why We Should Delay The Israel-Palestinian Peace Process|Aaron David Miller|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In schools, this meant finding new ways to evaluate students—and hence their teachers.
Your Local School Doesn’t Have to Suck|Michael S. Roth|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Hence the SWAT teams and armored trucks surrounding his house.
Hunt for Iraq Vet After Killing Spree|M.L. Nestel|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hence arise factions, dissensions, and loss to their religious interests and work; and these intruders seek to rule the others.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
Hence Napoleon was driven more and more to trust to the advice of the rash, unstable King of Naples.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Hence it can be seen what hope there is of establishing a flourishing christian church by such evangelists.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Hence their presence elsewhere, in spite of their passionate attachment to their free native hills.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
Hence it was that he found in Great Britain an implacable enemy ever stirring up against him European coalitions.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison

British Dictionary definitions for hence

hence

/ (hɛns) /

sentence connector

for this reason; following from this; therefore

adverb

from this timea year hence

archaic

from here or from this world; away
from this origin or source

interjection

archaic begone! away!

Word Origin for hence

Old English hionane; related to Old High German hinana away from here, Old Irish cen on this side

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

hence

Origin of hence

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH hence

Words nearby hence

Words related to hence

How to use hence in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hence

Word Origin for hence