hi¹

[hahy]

See more synonyms for hi on Thesaurus.com

interjection

(used as an exclamation of greeting); hello!

Origin of hi¹

1425–75; late Middle English hy, perhaps variant of hei hey

Can be confusedhi hie high

hi²

[hahy]

adjective

an informal, simplified spelling of high: hi fidelity.

HI

Hawaii (approved especially for use with zip code).

H.I.

Hawaiian Islands.
Meteorology. heat index.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for hi

Contemporary Examples

People we pass on the street, sit next to on the subway, say hi to at work every day.
‘High Maintenance,’ Like a Good High, Is Funny and Sometimes Unsettling
Caitlin Dickson
November 11, 2014
And he said hi back and smiled and sort of patted the baby on the head and everything.
The Stacks: Grateful Dead I Have Known
Ed McClanahan
August 30, 2014
Robin crossed to me from across the room, got down to my level, and whispered “Hi, how are you?”
Mara Wilson Remembers Robin Williams: We're All His Goddamn Kids
Mara Wilson
August 18, 2014
Below is the email response I received: Hi, thank you but we respectfully decline.
You Don’t Hate Feminism. You Just Don’t Understand It.
Emily Shire
July 24, 2014
After you insisted, you write that, “no one from the crew would meet my eyes or say hi.”
The Unsinkable Lee Grant Sets the Record Straight
William O’Connor
July 23, 2014

Historical Examples

As he approached the recumbent figure he yelled a panted "Hi, there!"
The Woman-Haters
Joseph C. Lincoln
"Hi, you—what's your name—Jennie Lind—come in here," he hailed.
Mary-'Gusta
Joseph C. Lincoln
It was clearly my duty to call his attention to it; so I said, "Hi!"
Masterpieces of Mystery
Various
"Hi, Stella," said Mabel, up on one elbow and looking fuzzily at me.
Sorry: Wrong Dimension
Ross Rocklynne
Truth is, sir, Hi wanted to ask Miss Wallace what she would like for dinner.
The Pirate of Panama
William MacLeod Raine

British Dictionary definitions for hi

hi¹

sentence substitute

an informal word for hello

Word Origin

C20: originally US, from hiya

hi²

interjection

an expression used to attract attention

Word Origin

C15 hy; compare hey

HI

abbreviation for

Hawaii (state)
Hawaiian Islands

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

Word Origin and History for hi

greeting, 1862, American English (first recorded reference is to speech of a Kansas Indian), originally to attract attention (15c.), probably a variant of Middle English hy, hey (late 15c.) also an exclamation to call attention. Extended form hiya attested from 1940.

hi.css-pdubzd{font-size:17px;vertical-align:super;}1

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}hi1

hi2

HI

H.I.

Examples from the Web for hi

Contemporary Examples

People we pass on the street, sit next to on the subway, say hi to at work every day.

And he said hi back and smiled and sort of patted the baby on the head and everything.

Robin crossed to me from across the room, got down to my level, and whispered “Hi, how are you?”

Below is the email response I received: Hi, thank you but we respectfully decline.

After you insisted, you write that, “no one from the crew would meet my eyes or say hi.”

Historical Examples

As he approached the recumbent figure he yelled a panted "Hi, there!"

"Hi, you—what's your name—Jennie Lind—come in here," he hailed.

It was clearly my duty to call his attention to it; so I said, "Hi!"

"Hi, Stella," said Mabel, up on one elbow and looking fuzzily at me.

Truth is, sir, Hi wanted to ask Miss Wallace what she would like for dinner.

hi1

Word Origin

hi2

Word Origin

HI

Word Origin and History for hi

hi¹

Origin of hi¹

hi²

hi¹

hi²