1
: precipitation in the form of small balls or lumps usually consisting of concentric layers of clear ice and compact snow
2
: something that gives the effect of a shower of hail
a hail of rifle fire
hailed; hailing; hails
1
: to precipitate hail (see hail entry 1)
it was hailing hard
2
: to pour down or strike like hail
Bullets were hailing down on them.
hailed; hailing; hails
1
2
: to greet or summon by calling
hail a taxi
: to call out
especially
: to call a greeting to a passing ship
1
—used to express acclamation
hail to the chief—
Sir Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott2
archaic
—used as a salutation
1
: an exclamation of greeting or acclamation
greeted the emperor with a hail
2
: a calling to attract attention
3
: hearing distance
stayed within hail
Synonyms
Examples of hail in a Sentence
Noun (1)
a hail of small stones warned them of the oncoming avalanche
even under the hail of angry questions, the press secretary stayed cool
Verb (2)
the museum director hailed the artist's new installation as a groundbreaking work of genius
let's hail a taxi
hailed the waiter for the check
Noun (2)
stay within hail of the restaurant's front desk so you'll know when your table is ready
Recent Examples on the Web
Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024
Radha Blank is a Director, Playwright, TV Writer, Performer and proud Native New Yorker who The New York Times has hailed as a ‘brilliant filmmaker’.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2024
Hogan Gore, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Damaging winds are expected Monday and last overnight, with hail and tornadoes also possible within the corridor.
—Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hail 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
The pups and their peoples hail from 40 states, Washington, D.C., and five foreign countries.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024
Radha Blank is a Director, Playwright, TV Writer, Performer and proud Native New Yorker who The New York Times has hailed as a ‘brilliant filmmaker’.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
Winter 2024:These 3 maps forecast Texas winter conditions Will Austin see winter storm, hail?
—Hogan Gore, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Damaging winds are expected Monday and last overnight, with hail and tornadoes also possible within the corridor.
—Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hail
Articles Related to hail
Dictionary Entries Near hail
Cite this Entry
“Hail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hail. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hail
1 of 5 noun1
: small lumps of ice that fall from clouds sometimes during thunderstorms
2
: something that gives the effect of falling hail
a hail of bullets
hail
2 of 5 verb1
: to fall as hail
2
: to pour down like hail
hail
3 of 5 interjection1
—used to express enthusiastic approval
2
archaic
—used as a greeting
hail
4 of 5 verb1
a
b
: to greet with enthusiastic approval : acclaim
hailed them as heroes
2
: to summon by calling
hail a taxi
3
: to call out to
hail a passing ship
hail
5 of 5 noun1
: an act or instance of hailing
2
: hearing distance
stayed within hail
Etymology
Noun
Old English hægl "lumps of ice, hail"
Interjection
Middle English hail (an interjection of approval or greeting), derived from early Norse heill "healthy" — related to hale entry 1, wassail
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