To hate means to feel intense dislike or hostility toward someone or something. When you hate something, you feel a strong negative emotion that goes far beyond simple dislike. You might dislike Brussels sprouts, but you probably don't hate them with the burning intensity someone might feel toward real injustice or cruelty.

Hate is one of the strongest negative emotions humans experience. Throughout history, hate has driven people to commit terrible acts, from schoolyard bullying to wars between nations. When people hate others because of their race, religion, or background, it can lead to persecution and violence.

The word also gets used more casually in everyday speech. Someone might say “I hate Mondays” or “I hate it when my pencil breaks during a test.” In these cases, the speaker doesn't mean genuine hatred, just strong annoyance or frustration.

The opposite of hate is love, but between these extremes lies most of human experience: preference, dislike, admiration, and indifference.

As a noun, hate is the feeling itself, or the actions that come from it. For example, someone might talk about “hate” spreading online, or about standing up to hate in their community.