A hint is a small clue or suggestion that helps you figure something out without directly telling you the answer. When you're stuck on a riddle and someone gives you a hint, they might say something like “think about words that sound the same but mean different things” without actually solving it for you.

Hints walk a careful line: they give you just enough information to point you in the right direction while still letting you do the real thinking. A good hint feels like a helpful nudge rather than having someone else do your work. If your friend is trying to guess what you got them for their birthday, you might drop a hint by mentioning their favorite color or leaving the shopping bag where they might notice it.

Teachers often give hints when they want students to discover something themselves. Instead of explaining how to solve a math problem step by step, they might hint, “Remember what we learned about fractions last week?” This way, you get the satisfaction of figuring it out on your own.

You can also hint at something, which means suggesting it indirectly. If someone keeps hinting at wanting to play outside, they might mention how nice the weather is or how long it's been since they rode their bike, hoping you'll get the message.