Hired

/ˈhaɪərd/

verbBeginnerVery CommonGeneral

Definitions

2 meanings
1

To engage or employ someone for wages or a fee, or to obtain the temporary use of something.

/ˈhaɪərd/

verbneutralBeginner
General

To obtain the temporary use of something or the services of someone by payment.

The company hired a consultant to improve efficiency.

💡 Simply: When you *hire* someone, you pay them to work for you. Think of it like when you *hire* a babysitter—you give them money for their time.

👶 For kids: To pay someone to help you or let you use something.

More Examples

2

They hired a contractor to build the house.

3

We hired a babysitter to watch the kids.

How It's Used

Business

"The company hired a new marketing director."

Personal

"We hired a car for our vacation."

2

Employed or engaged for a particular purpose.

/ˈhaɪərd/

adjectiveneutralmedium
General

Employed or engaged for a period or for a specific task.

The hired assassin completed the task.

💡 Simply: *Hired* means that someone is currently working for you or using a thing that you pay for. For example, that's a *hired* car.

👶 For kids: Someone or something that you are paying to help you.

More Examples

2

She was the hired hand for the farm.

3

They had a hired photographer to take the pictures at the wedding.

How It's Used

Legal

"The hired help was instructed to clean the property."

Tip:Think of a 'hired' bodyguard – they're employed for a specific task.

Idioms & expressions

hired gun

A person who is employed to do a specific, often unethical or violent, job.

"The company hired a hired gun to eliminate the competition."

From Old English *hȳran* ('to hire, listen, obey'), related to *hīr* ('wage, reward').

The word 'hire' has been used for centuries to denote employing someone, but also to indicate paying for services or use of items.

Memory tip

Think of the 'hire' sign in front of a car rental place. You pay to use the car.

heiredhyred

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written