hedge

1 of 3

noun

ˈhej How to pronounce hedge (audio)
Synonyms of hedgenext
1
a
: a fence or boundary formed by a dense row of shrubs or low trees
b
: barrier, limit
pikemen … present a hedge of metal points from which any cavalry would flinch—Tom Wintringham
regarded it as the main function of their existence to raise a hedge around the law—F. W. Farrar
2
: a means of protection or defense (as against financial loss)
realization that common stocks are the best hedge against inflation—C. E. Merrill
3
: a calculatedly noncommittal or evasive statement
bureaucratic literature … festooned with hedges and qualifications—Fortune

hedge

2 of 3

verb

hedged; hedging

transitive verb

1
: to enclose or protect with or as if with a dense row of shrubs or low trees : to enclose or protect with or as if with a hedge (see hedge entry 1 sense 1a) : encircle
homes hedged with boxwoods
2
: to confine so as to prevent freedom of movement or action : to obstruct with or as if with a barrier : hinder
hedged about by special regulations and statutes—Sandi Rosenbloom
3
: to protect oneself from losing or failing by a counterbalancing action
hedge a bet

intransitive verb

1
: to plant, form, or trim a hedge
2
: to evade the risk of commitment especially by leaving open a way of retreat : trim
hedged on the issue
3
: to protect oneself financially
—usually used with against
in order to hedge against inflation—George Katona
 : such as
a
: to buy or sell commodity futures (see future entry 2 sense 3) as a protection against loss due to price fluctuation
b
: to minimize the risk of a bet
hedger noun
hedgingly
ˈhe-jiŋ-lē How to pronounce hedge (audio)
adverb

hedge

3 of 3

adjective

1
: of, relating to, or designed for a hedge (see hedge entry 1)
a hedge plant
hedge selling on the commodity exchanges
2
: born, living, or made alongside or as if alongside a dense row of shrubs or low trees : born, living, or made near or as if near hedges (see hedge entry 1 sense 1a) : roadside
the services of a hedge parson
a hedge wedding
3
: inferior sense 1
a hedge tavern

Synonyms

Noun

Verb

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of hedge in a Sentence

Noun the messenger was confronted with a hedge of spears held aloft by the castle guards Verb The garden is hedged by flowering shrubs. She hedged when she was asked to support the campaign. He hedged his earlier comments about the need for new management.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Still, the task of narrating the lives of Jacob and Wilhelm remains as thorny as the hedge that trapped Briar Rose’s suitors. —Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024 For every immutable point of passion, there’s a hedge. —Christian Davies Fcsd, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
Like a veteran high roller playing the odds, indie film execs crowding the new Vegas venue at the Palms Casino for this year’s American Film Market are hedging their bets. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024 While OpenAI is a central part of Microsoft’s growth strategy, the company has been hedging its bets after integrating OpenAI’s models into several products and acting as the startup’s exclusive cloud infrastructure provider. —Jordan Novet, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
Nature's winter forecast:From hedge apples to acorns, what to look for in nature to predict winter weather Do woolly bear caterpillars forecast winter weather? —Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 31 Oct. 2024 REITs, on the other hand, hedge inflation and pay dividends. —Jim Osman, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hedge 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English hegge, heyg "fence formed by a row of shrubs, bush, underbrush," going back to Old English *hecg "fence formed by shrubs, boundary fence," attested in dative hegge, hecge (also Old English hecge, weak feminine noun, in same sense), going back to Germanic *hagjō (whence also Middle Dutch hegghe "hedge," Old High German hegga "palisade," Middle High German hegge, hecke "hedge"), derivative of a base *hag- "enclosure formed by shrubs" — more at haw entry 1

Verb

Middle English heggen, hedgyn "to make a hedge, fence in with a hedge," derivative of hegge, heyg hedge entry 1

Adjective

from attributive use of hedge entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hedge was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing hedge

Dictionary Entries Near hedge

hederin

hedge

hedge accentor

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Hedge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hedge. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

hedge

1 of 2 noun
ˈhej How to pronounce hedge (audio)
1
: a boundary formed by a dense row of shrubs or low trees
2
: barrier sense 1, limit

hedge

2 of 2 verb
hedged; hedging
1
: to enclose or protect with or as if with a hedge
2
: to block with or as if with a barrier
hedged in by restrictions
3
: to avoid giving a direct or exact answer or promise
hedged when asked to support the campaign
hedger noun

Legal Definition

hedge

intransitive verb
ˈhej
hedged; hedging
: to reduce possible losses in speculative transactions by engaging in offsetting transactions (as futures trading)

More from Merriam-Webster on hedge

Nglish: Translation of hedge for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of hedge for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hedge

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