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hate

HAYT/heɪt/

Verbhates, hating, hated

Noun pluralhates (some meanings)

7 meanings of hate

Practice

  1. 1
    dislike stronglyverbtransitive
    To feel intense dislike or hostility, toward someone or something or in general.

    They hate long meetings that accomplish nothing.

    He hated the way the neighborhood changed after the mill closed.

    UsageTakes -ing or to plus a verb: hate waiting, hate to wait. Also hate it when something happens.

    Oppositelove, like, adore

  2. 2
    the feelingnoununcountable
    An intense feeling of hostility or strong dislike toward someone or something.

    The crowd's chants were thick with hate.

    Years of hate had hardened him beyond reach.

    UsageUsually with no article: full of hate, pure hate, a voice thick with hate.

    Similarhatred, hostility, loathing, animosity, enmity

    Oppositelove, affection, goodwill

  3. 3
    verbtransitive
    To regret having to do something, or to be unwilling for something to happen, often said as a polite lead-in to an unwelcome remark or request.

    I hate to say it, but the numbers in this budget just don't add up.

    She said she would hate to see the old theater torn down after all the work volunteers had put into it.

    UsageUsually hate to plus a verb: I hate to say it, but ..., I'd hate to see that happen.

    Similarregret

    Note

    A politeness formula rather than a feeling: I hate to say it, I hate to interrupt, I'd hate to see that happen. The speaker is cushioning what comes next, and the bad news usually follows a but. Would hate to looks ahead to something that has not happened, often as a mild warning: you'd hate to lose your deposit. None of it carries the force of real dislike.

  4. 4
    bigotrynounmetonymicallyuncountable
    Intolerance and prejudice directed at people because of their race, religion, or identity.

    After swastikas were painted on the synagogue, neighbors gathered to show that hate against any faith had no place in their town.

    The city council passed a resolution condemning hate aimed at people for their race or religion.

    UsageUsually with no article, as in condemn hate; also before nouns: hate crime, hate speech.

    Similarbigotry, prejudice, intolerance, hatred

    Oppositetolerance, acceptance

    Note

    The emotion's name stands in for prejudice as a social force. This is the hate that organizations refuse to tolerate and marches are held against. It differs from online abuse, which names the hostile messages themselves; this hate is the prejudice behind such attacks, aimed at people for who they are.

    Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

    • Organizations refuse to tolerate hatred based on prejudice. utica.edu
    • Marches are organized against hate directed at social groups. aidshealth.org
  5. 5
    online abusenouncolloquialmetonymicallyuncountable
    Hostile or abusive comments directed at someone, especially online.

    The actor received a wave of hate after the interview aired.

    He deleted his account because of all the hate in the comments.

    UsagePeople get or receive hate, often measured as a lot of hate or a wave of hate.

    Similarabuse, vitriol, hostility, flak, trolling

    Oppositesupport, praise, love

    Note

    Internet slang turns the emotion into its output. The hate is the comments, replies and messages themselves, measured by volume: a lot of hate, a wave of hate. Keep it distinct from the phrasal verb hate on, which is what the senders are doing.

Less common meanings

  1. 6
    put downverbslangintransitive
    As hate on: to direct criticism, negativity or dislike at someone or something, often unfairly or out of envy.

    Strangers love to hate on artists they have never even met.

    Fans accused the critic of hating on the album before hearing it.

    Similardiss, knock, trash, bash

    Oppositepraise, support

    Note

    A slang phrasal verb that began in African-American Vernacular English and spread into general informal use. The particle on marks the target, and the hating is something shown, in words or looks, not just felt. It often appears in playful pleas: please don't hate on me, or stop hating on my outfit.

    Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

    • The slang phrasal verb originated in African-American Vernacular English and entered general informal use. en.wiktionary.org
  2. 7
    disliked thingnouncountable
    A person or thing that is the focus of someone's intense dislike.

    Bad customer service is his particular hate.

    Dishonesty in people she trusted was always one of her greatest hates.

    UsageMost often in pet hate, a small thing that annoys you, also called a pet peeve.

    Similarbugbear, peeve, aversion, dislike, bane

    Oppositelove, like

    Note

    Here the noun names the target rather than the feeling, so it can be counted: a person has hates the way they have tastes. Keep it apart from the feeling itself. My pet hate is a thing; pure hate is an emotion.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of hate apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Middle English hate (noun), probably from Old English hatian and/or Old Norse hatr, later merging with Middle English hete from Old English hete, from Proto-Germanic *hataz, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱeh₂d- ("strong emotion"). It is cognate with Dutch haat, German Hass, Danish had and Swedish hat. The verb comes from Old English hatian ("to hate, treat as an enemy"), from the same Proto-Germanic root.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 6 facts

  • The noun comes from Middle English hate, probably from Old English hatian and/or Old Norse hatr. en.wiktionary.org
  • The noun merged with Middle English hete. en.wiktionary.org
  • Middle English hete derives from Old English hete and ultimately Proto-Germanic *hataz. en.wiktionary.org
  • The cited reconstruction is *ḱeh₂d-, with a palatovelar ḱ; the gloss “strong emotion” is supported. en.wiktionary.org
  • Dutch haat, German Hass, Danish had and Swedish hat are cognates. en.wiktionary.org
  • The verb derives from Old English hatian, meaning to hate or treat as an enemy, and shares the noun's Proto-Germanic root. en.wiktionary.org