hello
Americaninterjection
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(used to express a greeting, answer a telephone, or attract attention.)
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(an exclamation of surprise, wonder, elation, etc.)
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(used derisively to question the comprehension, intelligence, or common sense of the person being addressed).
You're gonna go out with him? Hello!
noun
plural
hellosverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
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an expression of greeting used on meeting a person or at the start of a telephone call
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a call used to attract attention
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an expression of surprise
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an expression used to indicate that the speaker thinks his or her listener is naive or slow to realize something
Hello? Have you been on Mars for the past two weeks or something?
noun
Etymology
Origin of hello
First recorded in 1865–70; variant of hallo
Explanation
Hello! Hi! How are you doing? Hello is a salutation or greeting commonly used to begin conversations or telephone calls. Hello has been used as an English greeting since the 19th century. Most agree that it is related to the older French exclamation “Holà” — which means essentially “Ho there!” — like you might say to a horse to tell it to stop. Nowadays it’s still used to get someone’s attention but instead of stopping you’re starting something — usually a chat. Hallo and Hullo are variations of Hello used by British English speakers.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"A dydh da for hello, or a meur ras for thank you is an easy place to start. Our language is for everyone, and it is something we can all be proud of."
From BBC • May 1, 2026
Even some of my Times colleagues took a break from reporting to stop by and say hello.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026
“The Comeback” has a way of reappearing with Valerie’s perky “hello, hello, hello!” at inflection points like this, making the perpetually out-of-step performer uncannily right on time, always.
From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026
In a nutshell, it is farewell number 18 as the Brazilian departs and hello number six - the crucial, modern defensive midfielder the Old Trafford club want to replace him with.
From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026
Some of them recognize her, and soon they’re shouting hello and holding up their hands for her to slap.
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
