Discover a comprehensive collection of 278 nouns that start with the letter “H,” spanning everyday words like habit and holiday to more unique terms such as hagiography and hinterland. These nouns reveal the rich variety and depth of the English language, covering concepts from nature and objects to ideas and actions, all beginning with this dynamic letter.
Explore the full list below to enhance your vocabulary and understanding of these important nouns.
Noun This column lists each noun starting with “H.” The words are arranged alphabetically to help you quickly find and recognize them.
Definition Here you find a clear, simple meaning for each noun. This helps you understand what the word stands for in everyday use.
Example Usage This section shows a sentence using the noun, demonstrating how it fits naturally in conversation or writing. Examples make meanings easier to grasp.
Description This part offers a brief explanation or interesting fact about the noun. It highlights unique features, common uses, or background information to deepen your knowledge.
Nouns that start with H
Noun | Definition | Example Usage |
---|---|---|
haberdashery | A shop selling men’s clothing, especially shirts, ties, and accessories, or the goods sold there. | He bought a new tie at the haberdashery for the wedding. |
habit | A settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up. | He had a habit of biting his nails when nervous. |
habitat | The natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism. | The panda’s natural habitat is the bamboo forests of China. |
hacienda | A large estate or plantation with a dwelling house, especially in Spanish-speaking regions. | They stayed at a beautiful hacienda during their trip to Mexico. |
hack | An act of gaining unauthorized access to a computer system, or a clever solution to a problem. | The company reported a major data hack that compromised customer information. |
hacker | A person who uses computers to gain unauthorized access to data, or an enthusiastic and skillful computer programmer. | The ethical hacker helped the company identify vulnerabilities in their system. |
haddock | A marine food fish of the cod family, with a black lateral line. | She ordered fish and chips made with fresh haddock. |
hagiography | The writing of the lives of saints; also, an uncritical biography. | The book was more a hagiography than a balanced biography of the leader. |
hail | Pellets of frozen rain that fall in showers from cumulonimbus clouds. | The unexpected hail storm damaged the car’s paintwork. |
hair | Any of the fine, threadlike strands growing from the skin of mammals. | She had long, flowing blonde hair that reached her waist. |
haircut | The style in which hair has been cut or the act of cutting hair. | He went to the barber for a fresh haircut before the interview. |
halcyon | A period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful. | She often thought back to the halcyon days of her childhood. |
half | One of two equal or approximately equal parts of a whole. | He ate half of the pizza and saved the rest for later. |
halibut | A large marine flatfish, prized as food. | The restaurant specialized in grilled halibut with lemon butter. |
hall | The room or space just inside the front entrance of a house or building. | The guests waited in the main hall before the ceremony began. |
hallmark | A mark or stamp indicating quality or purity, or a distinctive characteristic. | The play’s witty dialogue was its hallmark. |
hallway | A corridor in a building, typically with rooms opening onto it. | He walked down the long hallway to his office. |
halo | A circle of light or glory around the head of a saint or god in religious art. | The artist painted a faint halo around the angel’s head. |
halt | A suspension of movement or activity, typically a temporary one. | The train came to a sudden halt at the station. |
halter | A rope or strap placed around the head of a horse or other animal, used for leading or tethering it. | She put the halter on the horse before taking it out to the pasture. |
ham | Meat from the upper part of a pig’s leg, cured by salting or smoking. | For Christmas dinner, they served a delicious glazed ham. |
hamburger | A patty of ground beef, typically fried or grilled and served in a bun. | He ordered a classic hamburger with cheese and pickles. |
hamlet | A small settlement, generally one smaller than a village, and typically without its own church. | The peaceful hamlet nestled in the valley. |
hammer | A tool with a heavy metal head mounted at right angles to a handle, used for driving nails or breaking things. | He used a hammer to fix the loose board on the fence. |
hammock | A bed made of canvas or rope netting, suspended by cords at the ends and used for sleeping or resting. | She spent the afternoon relaxing in the hammock under the trees. |
hamper | A basket with a lid, used for food, dirty laundry, or gifts. | She packed a picnic hamper with sandwiches and fruit for the outing. |
hamster | A burrowing rodent with a short tail and large cheek pouches for carrying food. | The child loved watching their pet hamster run on its wheel. |
hand | The end part of a person’s arm beyond the wrist, including the fingers and thumb. | He extended his hand in greeting to the new colleague. |
handbag | A small bag used by women for carrying personal items. | She rummaged through her handbag looking for her keys. |
handbook | A book giving information such as facts or instructions about a particular subject. | He consulted the company handbook for the new policy. |
handcuff | A pair of linked metal rings for securing a person’s wrists. | The police placed handcuffs on the suspect during the arrest. |
handkerchief | A square of cloth used for wiping the nose or mouth, or for decorative purposes. | He pulled out a clean handkerchief to wipe his brow. |
handle | The part of an object by which it can be held, carried, or controlled. | She grasped the handle of the teacup firmly. |
handlebar | The steering bar of a bicycle or motorcycle. | He gripped the handlebars tightly as he cycled down the hill. |
handout | A printed notice or document given out to a group of people, or a portion of food, clothing, or money given to a needy person. | The professor distributed a handout summarizing the key points of the lecture. |
handshake | An act of grasping a person’s hand with your own, used as a greeting or to express agreement. | Their handshake sealed the business deal. |
handwriting | The character or style of a person’s writing by hand. | Her elegant handwriting was a pleasure to read. |
hangar | A large building for housing aircraft. | The plane was moved into the hangar for maintenance. |
hangover | A severe headache or other disagreeable physical effects following an excessive consumption of alcohol. | He woke up with a terrible hangover after the party. |
happenstance | Coincidence. | By happenstance, they met again years later in a different city. |
happiness | The state of being happy. | Her happiness was infectious, brightening everyone’s day. |
harangue | A lengthy and aggressive speech. | The politician delivered a fiery harangue to the crowd. |
harbinger | A person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another. | The robin is a harbinger of spring. |
harbor | A place on the coast where ships may shelter. | The ships found a safe harbor during the storm. |
hardware | Tools, implements, and other items of equipment. | The store sold various types of hardware for home improvement. |
hardship | Severe suffering or privation. | They faced extreme hardship during the economic downturn. |
hare | A fast-running, long-eared mammal resembling a large rabbit, with longer hind legs. | The hare darted across the field, escaping its predator. |
harem | The separate part of a Muslim household reserved for women, or the women themselves. | The sultan’s palace included a large harem for his wives and female relatives. |
harm | Physical injury, especially that which is deliberately inflicted. | He didn’t mean any harm by his careless words. |
harmony | The quality of forming a pleasing and consistent whole. | The orchestra played with perfect harmony, creating a beautiful sound. |
harness | A set of straps and fittings by which a horse or other draft animal is fastened to a cart, plow, etc., or by which a person is secured to an object. | The climbing harness kept him safe on the rock face. |
harp | A musical instrument, roughly triangular in shape, consisting of a frame supporting a series of parallel strings, played by plucking with the fingers. | The angel played a beautiful melody on her golden harp. |
harpoon | A spearlike weapon with a barbed head, a line attached, and a shaft, thrown by hand or fired from a gun, used for catching whales and other large sea animals. | The whaler aimed his harpoon at the giant whale. |
harpsichord | A keyboard instrument with horizontal strings that are plucked by quills or plectra. | The baroque concert featured a delicate piece played on the harpsichord. |
harridan | A bossy, an ill-tempered old woman. | The old harridan scolded the children for playing in her yard. |
harvest | The process or period of gathering in crops. | The autumn harvest was abundant this year. |
hassle | An irritating inconvenience. | Dealing with the bureaucracy was a huge hassle. |
haste | Excessive speed or urgency of movement or action. | He regretted his haste in making the decision without proper consideration. |
hat | A shaped covering for the head worn for warmth, as a fashion accessory, or for protection. | She wore a wide-brimmed hat to protect her face from the sun. |
hatchback | A car with a hatch door at the back that lifts upwards to provide access to a storage area. | He drove a compact hatchback that was easy to park in the city. |
hatchet | A small axe with a short handle. | He used a hatchet to split kindling for the campfire. |
hatred | Intense dislike or ill will. | The ancient feud was fueled by deep-seated hatred. |
haunch | A buttock and thigh of an animal or person. | The dog gnawed on a succulent haunch of venison. |
haunt | A place frequently visited by a specified person or group of people. | The old pub was a favorite haunt for local artists. |
haven | A place of safety or refuge. | The isolated cabin served as a haven from the storm. |
havoc | Widespread destruction or confusion. | The sudden storm wreaked havoc on the small coastal town. |
hawk | A diurnal bird of prey with broad rounded wings and a long tail, typically taking prey by striking it from above. | The hawk soared high above the valley, searching for its next meal. |
hay | Grass that has been mown and dried for use as fodder. | The farmer stacked bales of hay in the barn for the winter. |
hazard | A danger or risk. | The icy roads were a major hazard for drivers. |
haze | A slight obscuration of the lower atmosphere, typically caused by fine suspended particles. | A thick haze hung over the city, obscuring the skyline. |
head | The upper part of the human body, or the foremost part of an object. | She rested her head on his shoulder. |
headache | A continuous pain in the head. | He took an aspirin to relieve his throbbing headache. |
headdress | An ornamental covering or band for the head. | The tribal chief wore an elaborate feathered headdress. |
heading | A title at the head of a page or section of a book. | The article had a clear heading that summarized its content. |
headline | A heading at the top of an article or page in a newspaper or magazine. | The shocking headline immediately caught her attention. |
headquarters | The main office or center of control for an organization. | The company’s global headquarters are located in New York City. |
health | The state of being free from illness or injury. | Regular exercise is essential for good health. |
heap | An untidy pile or mound of something. | He left a heap of dirty clothes on the floor. |
hearing | The faculty of perceiving sounds. | He had excellent hearing, even in his old age. |
hearsay | Information received from other people that cannot be substantiated. | The rumors were based purely on hearsay and lacked any concrete evidence. |
heart | A hollow muscular organ that pumps the blood through the circulatory system. | The doctor listened to her heart with a stethoscope. |
heartache | Emotional anguish or grief, typically caused by the loss of someone or something loved. | She felt a deep heartache after the breakup. |
hearth | The floor of a fireplace, typically extending into the room. | The family gathered around the warm hearth on a cold evening. |
heat | The quality of being hot; high temperature. | The desert heat was unbearable during the day. |
heater | An appliance for heating air or water. | She turned on the heater to warm up the chilly room. |
heath | An area of open uncultivated land, typically covered with heather, gorse, or scrub. | Wild ponies grazed peacefully on the heath. |
heathen | A person who does not belong to a widely held religion as regarded by those who do. | The missionaries sought to convert the heathen tribes. |
heaven | A place regarded in various religions as the abode of God or the gods and of the good after death. | She believed her beloved grandmother was now in heaven. |
heckler | A person who interrupts a public speaker with aggressive or rude questions or comments. | The comedian skillfully silenced the heckler in the audience. |
hectare | A metric unit of square measure, equal to 10,000 square meters (2.47 acres). | The farm covered an area of 50 hectares. |
hedge | A fence or boundary formed by closely grown bushes or shrubs. | The cottage was surrounded by a neatly trimmed hedge. |
hedgehog | A small nocturnal mammal with a spiny coat and short legs. | The hedgehog curled into a ball when approached. |
hedonism | The pursuit of pleasure; the ethical theory that pleasure (in the sense of the satisfaction of desires) is the highest good and proper aim of human life. | His lifestyle was characterized by extreme hedonism and indulgence. |
heed | Careful attention. | He paid no heed to the warning signs. |
heel | The back part of the human foot below the ankle. | She wore shoes with very high heels. |
heft | The weight of something. | He tested the heft of the new baseball bat. |
hegemony | Leadership or dominance, especially by one state or social group over others. | The historical hegemony of the Roman Empire extended across vast territories. |
height | The measurement from head to foot or from base to top. | The height of the building was over 100 meters. |
heir | A person legally entitled to the property or rank of another on that person’s death. | He was the sole heir to his uncle’s vast fortune. |
heiress | A female heir, especially to a large fortune. | She was a wealthy heiress, inheriting a vast estate. |
heirloom | A valuable object that has belonged to a family for several generations. | The antique watch was a cherished family heirloom. |
helicopter | A type of aircraft that derives both lift and propulsion from horizontally revolving overhead blades. | The helicopter landed gently on the helipad. |
hell | A place or state of suffering and punishment, traditionally regarded as the abode of devils and the damned. | Religious texts often describe hell as a fiery abyss. |
helmet | A hard or padded protective head covering. | He wore a safety helmet while riding his bicycle. |
help | The action of helping someone; assistance. | She offered her help with the heavy boxes. |
helper | A person who helps someone else. | His younger brother acted as his helper in the workshop. |
hem | The edge of a piece of cloth or clothing that has been turned under and sewn. | She needed to shorten the hem of her new dress. |
hemisphere | Half of a sphere; a half of the earth, usually divided into northern and southern halves or eastern and western halves. | The Northern Hemisphere experiences winter when the Earth’s axis tilts away from the sun. |
hemlock | A highly poisonous plant of the parsley family. | Socrates was famously executed by being forced to drink hemlock. |
hen | A female bird, especially of a domestic fowl. | The hen laid a fresh egg every morning. |
henchman | A faithful follower or political supporter, especially one prepared to engage in illegal or violent activities. | The villain sent his henchman to carry out the evil plan. |
herald | A person or thing that announces or proclaims something. | The first robin is a herald of spring’s arrival. |
herb | Any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume. | She added fresh basil, an aromatic herb, to the pasta sauce. |
herd | A large group of animals, especially hoofed mammals, that live together or are kept together as livestock. | A large herd of wildebeest migrated across the savanna. |
hereafter | The afterlife. | She believed in a peaceful hereafter where souls reunited. |
heresy | Belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious (especially Christian) doctrine. | His radical ideas were condemned as heresy by the church. |
heretic | A person believing in or practicing religious heresy. | He was branded a heretic for questioning traditional dogma. |
heritage | Property that is or may be inherited; an inheritance. | The city’s rich architectural heritage drew many tourists. |
hermit | A person living in solitude as a religious discipline. | The old hermit lived alone in a small cave in the mountains. |
hero | A person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. | He was hailed as a hero for saving the child from the burning building. |
heroine | A woman admired for her courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities; the chief female character in a book, play, or film. | She was the heroine of the novel, strong and independent. |
heroism | Great bravery. | His heroism during the war earned him a medal. |
heron | A large fish-eating wading bird with long legs, a long S-shaped neck, and a long, pointed bill. | A majestic heron stood perfectly still by the river, waiting for a fish. |
hesitation | The action of pausing or hesitating before saying or doing something. | There was a moment of hesitation before she accepted the proposal. |
hexagon | A plane figure with six straight sides and six angles. | The honeycomb cells are a perfect example of a hexagon in nature. |
hiatus | A pause or gap in a sequence, series, or process. | After a brief hiatus, the band announced a new album. |
hibernation | The state of reduced metabolic activity adopted by some animals in winter. | Bears enter a period of hibernation during the coldest months. |
hiccup | A sudden, involuntary spasm of the diaphragm and respiratory organs, producing a short, sharp sound. | He couldn’t stop having hiccups after eating too fast. |
hierarchy | A system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority. | The company had a strict hierarchy, from entry-level employees to the CEO. |
hieroglyph | A pictographic script, particularly that of the ancient Egyptians, in which many of the symbols are conventionalized pictures of objects representing words, syllables, or sounds. | Ancient Egyptian tombs were covered in intricate hieroglyphs. |
highland | An area of high or mountainous land. | The Scottish Highlands are known for their dramatic landscapes. |
highlight | An outstanding part of an event or period. | The goal in the final minute was the highlight of the football match. |
highway | A main road, especially one connecting towns and cities. | The traffic on the highway was heavy during rush hour. |
hijacker | A person who seizes control of a vehicle, aircraft, or ship during transit. | The airline implemented stricter security measures after the hijacker incident. |
hike | A long walk or walking tour. | They enjoyed a challenging hike through the mountains. |
hill | A naturally raised area of land, smaller than a mountain. | The children loved rolling down the grassy hill. |
hilt | The handle of a weapon or tool, especially a sword, dagger, or knife. | He gripped the sword by its hilt, ready for battle. |
hind | The back part of an animal’s body or a specific limb. | The deer’s hind legs kicked powerfully as it ran. |
hindsight | Understanding of an event or situation only after it has happened. | In hindsight, he realized he should have taken a different path. |
hinge | A movable joint or mechanism on which a door, gate, or lid swings open and closed, or that connects two parts of a device and allows them to turn. | The rusty hinge squeaked as she opened the old gate. |
hint | A slight or indirect suggestion or warning. | She dropped a subtle hint about what she wanted for her birthday. |
hinterland | An area lying beyond what is visible or known; a remote or undeveloped area. | The coastal city relied on the rich agricultural produce from its hinterland. |
hip | The projection of the pelvis and upper thigh bone on each side of the body. | She placed her hands on her hips and sighed. |
hippopotamus | A large, thick-skinned, semi-aquatic African mammal, with a massive head and powerful jaws. | The hippopotamus spent most of its day submerged in the river. |
hire | The action of employing someone or renting something. | The new hire started working in the marketing department. |
historian | An expert in or student of history, especially that of a particular period, geographical region, or social phenomenon. | The historian presented a compelling analysis of the ancient civilization. |
history | The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. | She loved studying ancient history, especially the Roman Empire. |
hit | An instance of striking or being struck. | The baseball player scored a hit, driving in a run. |
hitch | A temporary difficulty or problem. | The project went smoothly until they encountered a small hitch. |
hive | A vigorously active and organized community of bees. | The beekeeper carefully inspected the beehive. |
hoard | A stock or store of money or valued objects, typically one that is secret or carefully guarded. | The dragon protected its vast hoard of gold and jewels. |
hoarseness | The quality or state of being hoarse; a rough or harsh voice. | After shouting at the concert, she suffered from hoarseness. |
hoax | A humorous or mischievous deception. | The email claiming to offer free money was an obvious hoax. |
hobby | An activity done regularly in one’s leisure time for pleasure. | His hobby was collecting rare stamps. |
hobgoblin | A mischievous imp or goblin. | The children were told stories of hobgoblins living in the woods. |
hodgepodge | A confused mixture. | The report was a hodgepodge of disconnected facts and opinions. |
hoe | A long-handled gardening tool with a thin metal blade, used for weeding and breaking up soil. | She used a hoe to prepare the garden beds for planting. |
hog | A domesticated pig, especially a castrated male fattened for market. | The farmer raised hogs for their meat. |
hoist | An act of raising something by means of ropes or a pulley. | With a mighty hoist, they pulled the flag to the top of the pole. |
hold | An act or manner of grasping something; a grip. | He kept a firm hold on the rope as he climbed. |
holder | A device for holding something. | She placed the remote control in its wall holder. |
holiday | A day of festivities or recreation when no work is done. | They planned a relaxing beach holiday for the summer. |
holiness | The state of being holy or sacred. | The priest spoke of the importance of holiness in one’s life. |
hollow | A small valley or depression. | The children played in the hollow behind their house. |
holly | An evergreen shrub or small tree with glossy, spiny leaves and red berries, commonly used as a Christmas decoration. | The house was decorated with branches of holly and ivy for the festive season. |
holocaust | Destruction or slaughter on a mass scale, especially caused by fire or nuclear war. | The word “Holocaust” refers specifically to the genocide of European Jews by the Nazis. |
holster | A holder for carrying a handgun or other small item, attached to a belt or saddle. | The cowboy drew his revolver from its leather holster. |
homage | Special honor or respect shown publicly. | The concert was a homage to the legendary jazz musician. |
home | The place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household. | After a long journey, there’s no place like home. |
homeland | A person’s native land. | The refugees yearned to return to their homeland. |
homeowner | A person who owns their home. | The homeowner was responsible for all property taxes and maintenance. |
homesickness | A feeling of longing for one’s home during a period of absence. | She suffered from homesickness during her first year away at college. |
homestead | A house, especially a farmhouse, and outbuildings. | The pioneers built their homestead near the river. |
homework | Schoolwork that a student is required to do at home. | She spent hours doing her homework every evening. |
homicide | The killing of one person by another. | The police investigated the homicide case for weeks. |
homily | A sermon or religious discourse emphasizing a moral point. | The priest delivered a thoughtful homily on forgiveness. |
hominid | A primate of a family (Hominidae) that includes humans and their fossil ancestors. | The discovery of the fossil provided new insights into early hominid evolution. |
homonym | Each of two or more words having the same spelling or pronunciation but different meanings and origins (e.g., ‘bat’ (animal) and ‘bat’ (club)). | The word “bear” is a homonym for the animal and the verb meaning to carry. |
honesty | The quality of being honest. | Her honesty was evident in all her dealings, earning her respect. |
honey | A sweet, viscous fluid produced by bees from nectar. | She drizzled honey over her yogurt for a natural sweetener. |
honeycomb | A structure of hexagonal cells of wax, made by bees to store honey and eggs. | The beehive was full of golden honeycomb. |
honeymoon | A holiday or trip taken by a newly married couple. | They went on a romantic honeymoon to Paris. |
honor | High respect; great esteem. | He received the award in honor of his years of service. |
hood | A covering for the head and neck, often attached to a coat or jacket. | She pulled up her hood to protect herself from the rain. |
hoodlum | A person engaging in crime and violence; a thug or gangster. | The police arrested the hoodlum after a series of petty crimes. |
hoof | The horny part of the foot of a horse or other ungulate mammal. | The horse’s hooves clattered on the cobblestone street. |
hook | A piece of metal or other hard material bent back at an angle, for catching hold of or hanging things on. | He hung his coat on the hook by the door. |
hooligan | A violent young troublemaker, typically one of a gang. | The football match was marred by the behavior of a few hooligans. |
hoop | A circular band of metal, wood, or plastic, used for various purposes. | The children played with a large hula hoop in the park. |
hoot | A loud cry or shout, typically one of derision. | The crowd let out a hoot of laughter at the comedian’s joke. |
hop | A short jump or spring, especially on one leg. | The bunny made a quick hop across the lawn. |
hope | A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. | She never lost hope, even in the darkest times. |
horde | A large group of people. | A horde of tourists descended upon the popular attraction. |
horizon | The line at which the earth’s surface and the sky appear to meet. | The sun slowly dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with colors. |
hormone | A regulatory substance produced in an organism and transported in tissue fluids to stimulate specific cells or tissues into action. | Insulin is a vital hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. |
horn | A hard, pointed, often curved outgrowth on the head of certain mammals. | The bull lowered its powerful horns as a warning. |
hornet | A large, aggressive wasp, typically with a yellowish-brown body. | They were careful not to disturb the hornet’s nest. |
horoscope | A forecast of a person’s future, typically including a delineation of character and circumstances, based on the relative positions of the stars and planets at the time of that person’s birth. | She read her daily horoscope in the newspaper for fun. |
horror | An intense feeling of fear, shock, or disgust. | The sight of the accident filled her with horror. |
horse | A large, solid-hoofed plant-eating domesticated mammal with a flowing mane and tail. | The knight rode his majestic horse into battle. |
horsepower | A unit of power, equal to 745.7 watts, used in rating engines. | The car’s engine had a remarkable 300 horsepower. |
hose | A flexible tube conveying water, used for watering gardens, extinguishing fires, or other purposes. | He used the garden hose to water the plants. |
hospice | A home providing care for the sick or terminally ill. | The hospice provided comfort and support to patients in their final days. |
hospitality | The friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers. | The innkeepers were known for their warm hospitality. |
host | A person who receives or entertains guests, or a person or animal in which a parasite lives. | The host welcomed his friends to the dinner party. |
hostage | A person seized or held as security for the fulfillment of a condition. | The police negotiated for the release of the hostages. |
hostess | A woman who receives or entertains guests. | The elegant hostess greeted each guest personally. |
hostility | Hostile behavior; unfriendliness or opposition. | There was open hostility between the two rival factions. |
hotbed | An environment promoting the growth of something, especially something undesirable. | The overcrowded slums became a hotbed of disease and crime. |
hotdog | A frankfurter, especially one served hot in a split roll. | He bought a hotdog and a soda at the baseball game. |
hotel | An establishment providing lodging, meals, and other services for travelers and tourists. | They booked a luxurious hotel room with a view of the ocean. |
hothead | A impetuous or quick-tempered person. | His hothead nature often led him into arguments. |
hound | A dog of a breed used for hunting, especially one that hunts by scent. | The hunter’s hounds tracked the scent of the fox through the woods. |
hour | A period of sixty minutes. | The meeting lasted for a full hour. |
hourglass | A device for measuring time, consisting of two connected glass bulbs from which sand runs from the upper to the lower one. | The hourglass slowly marked the passage of time. |
house | A building for human habitation, especially one that is lived in by a family or small group of people. | They bought a beautiful house with a large garden. |
household | A house and its occupants regarded as a unit. | The average household in the area consisted of four people. |
housekeeper | A person employed to manage a household. | The wealthy family employed a live-in housekeeper. |
housewarming | A party celebrating a move to a new home. | They invited all their friends to their housewarming party. |
housing | Houses and apartments collectively. | The government launched a new initiative to address the shortage of affordable housing. |
hovel | A small, squalid, unpleasant, or simply constructed dwelling. | The poor family lived in a dilapidated hovel on the outskirts of town. |
hovercraft | An amphibious vehicle that can travel over land and water on a cushion of air created by a downward-pointing fan. | The hovercraft effortlessly glided across the water and onto the beach. |
howitzer | A short gun for firing shells on a high trajectory with a relatively low muzzle velocity. | The artillery unit deployed a powerful howitzer during the military exercise. |
howl | A long, mournful cry of a dog, wolf, or other animal. | The lone wolf let out a mournful howl at the moon. |
hub | The central part of a wheel, rotating on or with the axle. | The wheel’s hub was made of polished chrome. |
hubbub | A confused din; a loud noise or commotion. | The hubbub of the marketplace was overwhelming. |
hubcap | A cover for the hub of a wheel. | He lost a hubcap after hitting a pothole on the road. |
hubris | Excessive pride or self-confidence. | The politician’s hubris ultimately led to his downfall. |
huddle | A crowded mass of people or things. | The frightened sheep gathered in a huddle during the storm. |
hue | A color or shade. | The sunset displayed a beautiful hue of orange and purple. |
hug | A tight embrace. | She gave her child a warm hug before bedtime. |
hulk | A large, heavy person or thing. | The old, abandoned ship was a rusty hulk in the harbor. |
hull | The main body or frame of a ship or other watercraft. | The ship’s hull was designed to withstand harsh ocean conditions. |
hullabaloo | A commotion; a fuss. | There was a great hullabaloo when the celebrity arrived. |
human | A human being. | Every human deserves respect and dignity. |
humanitarian | A person who seeks to promote human welfare. | She dedicated her life to being a humanitarian, helping those in need. |
humanity | The human race; human beings collectively. | The concept of humanity often emphasizes our shared values and experiences. |
humbug | Deceptive or false talk or behavior. | His promises turned out to be pure humbug. |
humdinger | An outstanding or remarkable person or thing. | That performance was a real humdinger! |
humidity | The quantity of water vapor in the atmosphere or a gas. | The high humidity made the summer day feel even hotter. |
humiliation | The action of humiliating someone or the state of being humiliated. | He felt deep humiliation after his public mistake. |
humility | A modest or low view of one’s own importance. | He approached his new role with great humility and a willingness to learn. |
humor | The quality of being amusing or comical. | His dry humor always made everyone laugh. |
humorist | A person who writes or performs humorous material. | The famous humorist delighted the audience with witty observations. |
hump | A rounded protuberance on the back of a camel or other animal, or on a person’s back. | The camel had two distinct humps on its back. |
humus | The organic component of soil, formed by the decomposition of leaves and other plant material. | Rich, dark humus is essential for healthy garden soil. |
hunch | A feeling or guess based on intuition rather than known facts. | She had a hunch that something important was about to happen. |
hundred | The number equivalent to the product of ten and ten; 100. | There were over one hundred people at the event. |
hunger | A feeling of discomfort or weakness caused by lack of food, coupled with the desire to eat. | The prolonged drought led to widespread hunger in the region. |
hunk | A large piece of something; a sexually attractive man. | He cut a large hunk of bread from the loaf. |
hunt | An act of hunting animals or game. | The ancient tribes relied on the hunt for their survival. |
hunter | A person who hunts wild animals. | The skilled hunter tracked the deer through the dense forest. |
hurdle | An upright frame, typically one of a series, that athletes in a race must jump over. | She cleared every hurdle with ease during the race. |
hurly-burly | Busy, boisterous activity or confusion. | She longed for peace away from the hurly-burly of city life. |
hurricane | A storm with a violent wind, in particular a tropical cyclone in the Caribbean. | Hurricane Katrina caused catastrophic damage to New Orleans. |
hurry | Undue haste or eagerness. | There was no need for hurry; they had plenty of time. |
hurt | Physical injury or pain. | He felt a sharp hurt in his knee after the fall. |
husband | A married man; a woman’s partner in marriage. | Her husband supported her career ambitions. |
husbandry | The care, cultivation, and breeding of crops and animals. | Good husbandry practices are essential for a productive farm. |
hush | A sudden, complete silence. | A hush fell over the crowd as the speaker began. |
husk | The dry outer covering of some fruits or seeds. | He peeled back the husk of the corn before boiling it. |
hustler | An aggressively enterprising person; a person who earns money illegally. | The street hustler tried to sell him a fake watch. |
hut | A small, simple dwelling or shelter, typically made of wood or mud. | The hikers found refuge in a small, rustic hut during the storm. |
hutch | A box or cage, typically with a wire mesh front, for keeping rabbits or other small animals. | The family bought a new hutch for their pet rabbit. |
hyacinth | A popular fragrant plant of the lily family, grown from a bulb, with a dense spike of bell-shaped flowers. | The garden was filled with the sweet scent of blooming hyacinth. |
hybrid | A thing made by combining two different elements; a mixture. | The new car was a hybrid, combining gasoline and electric power. |
hydrant | A fixture in a street or other public place with a nozzle to which a fire hose can be attached. | The firefighters quickly connected their hose to the nearest fire hydrant. |
hydrogen | A colorless, odorless, flammable gas, the lightest and most abundant element in the universe. | Hydrogen is the most common element in the universe. |
hygiene | Conditions or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease, especially through cleanliness. | Good personal hygiene is crucial for preventing the spread of germs. |
hymn | A religious song or poem, typically of praise to God or a god. | The congregation sang a beautiful hymn of thanksgiving. |
hype | Extravagant or intensive publicity or promotion. | The movie was surrounded by a lot of hype before its release. |
hyperbole | Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally. | She used hyperbole to emphasize how tired she was. |
hyphen | A short dash used to join words or to divide words into syllables. | Use a hyphen to join compound adjectives like “well-known”. |
hypocrisy | The practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not conform. | His hypocrisy was evident when he criticized others for actions he himself committed. |
hypocrite | A person who claims to have moral standards or beliefs to which their own behavior does not conform. | He was called a hypocrite for advocating for environmental protection while owning several gas-guzzling cars. |
hypodermic | A hypodermic syringe or injection. | The nurse prepared the hypodermic for the vaccine. |
hypothesis | A supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation. | The scientist formulated a hypothesis based on her initial observations. |
hysteria | Uncontrollable emotion or excitement, especially among a group of people. | The crowd descended into hysteria after the surprise announcement. |