hither

American  

[hith-er] / ˈhɪð ər /

adverb

1. to or toward this place.

   to come hither.

---

adjective

1. being on this or the closer side; nearer.

   the hither side of the meadow.

idioms

1. hither and thither, in various quarters; here and there.

   They scurried hither and thither to escape the rain.

2. hither and yon, from here to over there, especially to a farther place; in or to a great many places.

   He looked hither and yon for the coin. She went hither and yon in search of an answer.

hither British  

/ ˈhɪðə /

adverb

1. Also (archaic): hitherward.   hitherwards.  to or towards this place (esp in the phrase come hither )

2. this way and that, as in a state of confusion

---

adjective

1. archaic (of a side or part, esp of a hill or valley) nearer; closer

Etymology

Origin of hither

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English hider; cognate with Old Norse hethra, Latin citer “on this side”

Explanation

Hither is a fancy or old-fashioned way to say "here." Your grandmother might jokingly call everyone for dinner by saying, "Come hither! Soup's on!" Language experts consider hither to be a "fossil word," one that is still regularly used within various idioms despite being otherwise obsolete. You may find it in the phrases "hither and thither" or "hither and yon," both of which mean "here and there," in the sense of a disorganized or confused movement back and forth. Hither shares a root with its modern relative here.

Example Sentences

Then there’s this passage: The king has “sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 15, 2026

“He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 23, 2025

The humor is sporadic, hinging mostly on slapstick-style depictions of body parts being flung hither and thither.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 23, 2023

When Santos is sworn in on Capitol Hill next week, it will send a Bat-signal across the land: Come hither, crooks and swindlers, con artists and hustlers all.

From Salon • Dec. 28, 2022

“Now he’s standing on deck, cursing the wind or lack thereof, and praying for a breeze. Looks like his prayers are soon answered, for a storm kicks up and blows them hither and yon.”

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood