Hot

/hɒt/

adjectiveBeginner🔥Very CommonGeneral
5 meanings4 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

5 meanings
1

Having a high temperature.

/hɒt/

adjectiveneutralBeginner
General

Having a high temperature; feeling or causing warmth.

The coffee was too hot to drink.

💡 Simply: Hot means it's really warm, like when you get out of a hot shower or when the sun is shining brightly.

👶 For kids: Hot means it's warm! Like the sun, or a nice warm hug.

More Examples

2

The desert is very hot during the day.

3

She took a hot bath to relax.

How It's Used

Cooking

"The oven was incredibly hot when I was baking the cake."

Weather

"It was a hot summer day."

2

Recently produced or created; new.

/hɒt/

adjectiveneutralmedium
General

Recently produced or updated; new.

That's the hot new trend right now.

💡 Simply: Something that is hot is super new, like the latest trend or the newest movie that just came out.

👶 For kids: Hot means it's brand new!

More Examples

2

We got the hot new information today.

3

She just released a hot single.

How It's Used

News

"The news is still hot off the press."

Technology

"The new phone is a hot product."

Tip:Think of a product just off the production line.
3

Popular or in demand.

/hɒt/

adjectivepositivemedium
Arts

That restaurant is really hot right now.

💡 Simply: Hot means something is super popular or everyone loves it, like a really good song everyone is listening to.

👶 For kids: Hot means everyone likes it!

More Examples

2

Electric cars are a hot item on the market.

3

The musician has become a hot commodity.

How It's Used

Business

"That company's stock is currently hot."

Popular Culture

"He's one of the hot new actors."

Tip:Think of something everyone wants.
4

Sexually attractive; sexually aroused.

/hɒt/

adjectivepositivemedium
General

She thought he was really hot.

💡 Simply: Hot can also mean someone is really attractive or sexy, like when you think someone is really cool.

👶 For kids: Hot means someone is pretty, like a cool person.

More Examples

2

The model looked hot in that outfit.

3

He has a hot girlfriend.

How It's Used

Informal conversation

"He thought she was hot."

Entertainment

"The movie has hot scenes."

Tip:Think of the feeling of attraction.
5

Showing enthusiasm or excitement. Performing well.

/hɒt/

adjectivepositivemedium
General

Showing enthusiasm or excitement.

The team is on a hot winning streak.

💡 Simply: Hot can also mean someone is doing really well at something or is very excited about it. Like a basketball player who can't miss a shot is on a "hot streak".

👶 For kids: Hot means doing great, or excited about something!

More Examples

2

The detectives are hot on the case.

3

She is hot to start the project.

How It's Used

Sports

"The team is on a hot streak."

Informal conversation

"He's hot on the trail."

Tip:Think of the heat of competition.

Idioms & expressions

hot potato

A controversial or difficult issue.

"The immigration issue is a hot potato for many politicians."

hot under the collar

Angry or annoyed.

"He got hot under the collar when they criticized his work."

in hot water

In trouble.

"He got himself in hot water with the boss after being late."

hot off the press

Recently announced or published

"We received the hot off the press news about the deal."

From Old English *hāt* (adjective) and *hætan* (verb), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *haita-, connected to the concept of heat or warmth. The verb evolved alongside the adjective.

Used since Old English times. The word has evolved to encompass more abstract meanings over time, reflecting changes in social attitudes and cultural trends.

Memory tip

Think of a fire or the sun.

Word Origin

LanguageProto-Germanic
Original meaning

"Heated, warm"

hot weatherhot coffeehot topichot temperhot new

Common misspellings

hotte

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written