hat

1 of 2

noun

1
: a covering for the head usually having a shaped crown and brim
2
a
: a distinctive head covering worn as a symbol of office
b
: an office, position, or role assumed by or as if by the wearing of a special hat
wore many hats in her career
hatless adjective

hat

2 of 2

verb

hatted; hatting

transitive verb

: to furnish or provide with a hat

intransitive verb

: to make or supply hats
Phrases
under one's hat
: not disclosed
kept the news under his hat

Examples of hat in a Sentence

Noun in those days, no properly dressed person left home without a hat
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Develop Hybrid Skills: If leadership roles are shifting, employees who can wear multiple hats will have an advantage. Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025 Topping off his look, meanwhile, was a brimmed sailor’s hat made out of paper. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 23 Feb. 2025 Amazon, like Alibaba, wears dual hats of retailer and cloud provider. Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 21 Feb. 2025 The green is in reference to his Nintendo namesake Luigi, who is always dressed in green, with a hat of the same shade, in contrast to his brother Mario in red. Katherine Fung, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hat

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hæt; akin to Old High German huot head covering — more at hood entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of hat was before the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Hat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hat. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

hat

noun
ˈhat
1
: a covering for the head usually having a shaped crown and brim
2
a
: a distinctive head covering worn as a symbol of office
b
: an office, position, or role assumed as if by the wearing of a special hat
wears many hats in her job

More from Merriam-Webster on hat

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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