What does hail mean?
Hail most commonly refers to balls or lumps of ice that fall from clouds during severe weather. It is an unusual form of precipitation because the pieces of ice are large, hard, and often capable of damaging vehicles, windows, roofs, and crops. Hail can also mean a formal greeting or salutation, as in a celebratory “hail” to an important person, and it can be used as an interjection expressing welcome or homage. As a verb, hail has two closely related uses: to greet someone with enthusiasm, and to call out to someone in order to attract attention. The word’s range makes it useful in both practical descriptions of weather and formal or dramatic language. In figurative expressions, a hail of criticism or questions describes a large and forceful amount of something directed toward a person or institution.
Ice in the form of hard balls or lumps that falls from clouds, especially during a thunderstorm; also a greeting or salutation.
"The weather service warned that large hail could fall during the storm."
The precipitation sense is usually uncountable when referring to the weather phenomenon; individual pieces are called hailstones.
To greet someone enthusiastically or ceremonially, or to call out to someone in order to attract their attention.
"Passengers hailed the bus as it approached the station."
The meaning “call out to” is common in everyday speech; the meaning “greet enthusiastically” often has a formal or celebratory tone.
A formal greeting or acclamation used to welcome or honor someone.
"Hail to the champion!"
This use is chiefly formal, ceremonial, or literary.
Used for individual pieces of hail; the precipitation as a whole is normally uncountable.
"Several hailstones broke the greenhouse windows."
Hailstones grow in layers inside storm clouds, making them small, hard spheres of ice that can damage cars, roofs, and crops.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of hail
The English word has Old English antecedents for both hailstone and the act of hailing or greeting. The greeting and verb forms belong to a Germanic family that also includes cognates such as hale and heal, ultimately reflecting a Proto-Indo-European root associated with wholeness or health. Over time, the word developed its separate modern senses of frozen precipitation, greeting, and calling out to attract attention.
Related word forms
How hail is actually used
Hail as a greeting or acclamation is formal, ceremonial, or literary, although it can be used enthusiastically in modern contexts such as headlines. As a verb meaning to call out to someone, it is common and informal.
Easily confused with hail
Hail can mean ice falling from the sky or a greeting, while hale means healthy and vigorous.