First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1hire
noun \ˈhī(-ə)r\
: someone who has been hired for a job
Full Definition of HIRE
1
a : payment for the temporary use of something b : payment for labor or personal services : wages
2
a : the act or an instance of hiring b : the state of being hired : employment
3
British : rental —often used attributively
4
: one who is hired <starting wage for the new hires>
— for hire also on hire
: available for use or service in return for payment
See hire defined for English-language learners
See hire defined for kids
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Origin of HIRE
Middle English, from Old English hȳr; akin to Old Saxon hūria hire
Related to HIRE
- Synonyms
- employ, employment, engagement
- Antonyms
- joblessness, nonemployment, unemployment
2hire
verb
: to give work or a job to (someone) in exchange for wages or a salary
: to use or get the services of (someone) to do a particular job
: to pay to use (something)
hiredhir·ing
Full Definition of HIRE
transitive verb
1
a : to engage the personal services of for a set sum <hire a crew> b : to engage the temporary use of for a fixed sum <hire a hall>
2
: to grant the personal services of or temporary use of for a fixed sum <hire themselves out>
3
: to get done for pay <hire the mowing done>
intransitive verb
: to take employment <hire out as a guide during the tourist season>
— hir·er noun
See hire defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of HIRE
before 12th century
Related to HIRE
Synonym Discussion of HIRE
hire, let, lease, rent, charter mean to engage or grant for use at a price. hire and let, strictly speaking, are complementary terms, hire implying the act of engaging or taking for use and let the granting of use <we hired a car for the summer> <decided to let the cottage to a young couple>. lease strictly implies a letting under the terms of a contract but is often applied to hiring on a lease <the diplomat leased an apartment for a year>. rent stresses the payment of money for the full use of property and may imply either hiring or letting <instead of buying a house, they decided to rent> <will not rent to families with children>. charter applies to the hiring or letting of a vehicle usually for exclusive use <charter a bus to go to the game>.
HIRER Defined for Kids
hire
verb \ˈhīr\
hiredhir·ing
Definition of HIRE for Kids
1
: 1employ 1 <The company hired new workers.>
2
: to get the temporary use of in return for pay <They hired a hall for the party.>
3
: to take a job <He hired out as a cook.>
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