hire
hire Lexical Profile
hire Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To employ someone for wages or a salary to perform a job or service.
"The firm plans to hire three software engineers before the end of the quarter."
British To obtain the temporary use of an object, vehicle, or building in exchange for payment.
"We decided to hire a boat for the afternoon to explore the coast."
• noun
The action of employing someone for wages or paying for the temporary use of an object or service.
"The shop offers bicycles and helmets for daily hire."
A person who has recently been employed by an organization.
"All new hires must attend the orientation session on Monday morning."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'hire' with its homophone 'higher' (the comparative form of 'high'). In British English, 'hire' is commonly used for renting vehicles or equipment for a short period, whereas American English prefers 'rent' for objects and reserves 'hire' primarily for employing people.
• Rhymes for hire
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'hyr', meaning 'wages, pay, or interest on money', of West Germanic origin and related to Dutch 'huur' and German 'Heuer'.