Commonly used words in written English - letter H with 332 words, sorted alphabetically

The list of words starting with the letter H that occur frequently in written English is based on an analysis of the Google Books Ngram (a collection compiled by Peter Norvig in 2012, containing close to one trillion words).
  1. Word Frequency is calculated as the number of occurrences in one million words.
  2. Word Definition is sourced from the WordNet dictionary. You'll have to look up each word page for its complete definition and Part of Speech (POS) categories.
Word Frequency Definition
97
(noun) the 8th letter of the Roman alphabet
23
(noun) (astronomy) the angular distance of a celestial point measured westward along the celestial equator from the zenith crossing; the right ascension for an observer at a particular location and time of day
67
(verb) put a habit on; (noun) an established custom
15
(noun) the type of environment in which an organism or group normally lives or occurs
5
(noun) the native habitat or home of an animal or plant
6
(adjective) commonly used or practiced; usual
3,516
(verb) past tense and past participle of have
11
(verb) be a native of; (noun) precipitation of ice pellets when there are strong rising air currents
94
(noun) a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
6
(adjective) having or covered with hair
6
(adjective) exhibiting or restored to vigorous good health; (noun) a soldier of the American Revolution who was hanged as a spy by the British; his last words were supposed to have been 'I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country' (1755-1776)
269
(adverb) partially or to the extent of a half; (adjective) (of siblings) related through one parent only
6
(adverb) at half the distance; at the middle; (adjective) at a point midway between two extremes
99
(noun) a large room for gatherings or entertainment
16
(verb) cause to stop
7
(noun) meat cut from the thigh of a hog (usually smoked)
6
(noun) a port city in northern Germany on the Elbe River that was founded by Charlemagne in the 9th century and is today the largest port in Germany; in 1241 it formed an alliance with Lubeck that became the basis for the Hanseatic League
23
(noun) Irish mathematician (1806-1865)
12
(noun) a community of people smaller than a village
11
(verb) beat with or as if with a hammer; (noun) the part of a gunlock that strikes the percussion cap when the trigger is pulled
6
(verb) prevent the progress or free movement of; (noun) a basket usually with a cover
9
(noun) a county of southern England on the English Channel
7
(noun) imperial dynasty that ruled China (most of the time from 206 BC to AD 220) and expanded its boundaries and developed its bureaucracy; remembered as one of the great eras of Chinese civilization
403
(verb) guide or conduct or usher somewhere; (noun) the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
18
(noun) a concise reference book providing specific information about a subject or location
28
(adjective) having or involving the use of hands
10
(noun) a small number or amount
6
(verb) attempt to forecast the winner (especially in a horse race) and assign odds for or against a contestant; (noun) advantage given to a competitor to equalize chances of winning
8
(adjective) having restricted mental or physical functioning as a consequence of injury or illness; (noun) people collectively who are crippled or otherwise physically handicapped
6
(noun) a square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes or nose or as a costume accessory
43
(verb) touch, lift, or hold with the hands; (noun) the appendage to an object that is designed to be held in order to use or move it
18
(adjective) having a usually specified type of handle
29
(noun) manual (or mechanical) carrying or moving or delivering or working with something
189
(noun) (with 'in') guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
21
(adjective) given or giving freely
5
(adjective) easy to reach; (noun) United States blues musician who transcribed and published traditional blues music (1873-1958)
56
(verb) be suspended or hanging; (noun) the way a garment hangs
22
(noun) decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
173
(verb) come to pass
21
(noun) an event that happens
12
(adverb) in a joyous manner
42
(noun) state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
88
(adjective) enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
5
(noun) a feeling of intense annoyance caused by being tormented
22
(verb) maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings); (noun) a place of refuge and comfort and security
15
(verb) secretly shelter (as of fugitives or criminals); (noun) a place of refuge and comfort and security
188
(adverb) with effort or force or vigor; (adjective) dispassionate
6
(adjective) protected against attack (especially by nuclear weapons)
74
(adverb) almost not
7
(noun) the property of being rigid and resistant to pressure; not easily scratched; measured on Mohs scale
11
(noun) something that causes or entails suffering
16
(noun) major items of military weaponry (as tanks or missile)
12
(adjective) having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships; (noun) United States slapstick comedian who played the pompous and overbearing member of the Laurel and Hardy duo who made many films (1892-1957)
9
(verb) run quickly, like a hare; (noun) swift timid long-eared mammal larger than a rabbit having a divided upper lip and long hind legs; young born furred and with open eyes
31
(verb) cause or do harm to
10
(adjective) causing or capable of causing harm
7
(adjective) not causing or capable of causing harm
7
(adjective) of or relating to harmony as distinct from melody and rhythm; (noun) a tone that is a component of a complex sound
6
(adjective) musically pleasing
28
(noun) compatibility in opinion and action
6
(verb) put a harness; (noun) a support consisting of an arrangement of straps for holding something to the body (especially one supporting a person suspended from a parachute)
17
(noun) someone who plays the harp
18
(noun) United States author who wrote the stories about Uncle Remus (1848-1908)
13
(noun) English actor on stage and in films (1908-1990)
28
(verb) make a pillaging or destructive raid on (a place), as in wartimes
15
(adjective) unpleasantly stern
10
(noun) a male deer, especially an adult male red deer
30
(noun) American philanthropist who left his library and half his estate to the Massachusetts college that now bears his name (1607-1638)
23
(verb) remove from a culture or a living or dead body, as for the purposes of transplantation; (noun) the consequence of an effort or activity
10
(noun) English physician and scientist who described the circulation of the blood; he later proposed that all animals originate from an ovum produced by the female of the species (1578-1657)
2,194
(verb) third person present of have
8
(noun) overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)
14
(verb) act or move at high speed
8
(adverb) in a hurried or hasty manner
6
(noun) United States architect who formed and important architectural firm with John Merven Carrere (1860-1929)
5
(adjective) excessively quick
38
(verb) put on or wear a hat; (noun) headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
6
(verb) emerge from the eggs; (noun) the production of young from an egg
27
(verb) dislike intensely; feel antipathy or aversion towards; (noun) the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action
14
(adjective) treated with dislike or contempt
17
(noun) the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action
9
(verb) draw slowly or heavily
5
(verb) follow stealthily or recur constantly and spontaneously to; (noun) a frequently visited place
5
(adjective) having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something
4,120
(verb) have or possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense
16
(noun) a shelter serving as a place of safety or sanctuary
9
(noun) a state in the United States in the central Pacific on the Hawaiian Islands
9
(verb) hunt with hawks; (noun) diurnal bird of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail
15
(verb) convert (plant material) into hay; (noun) grass mowed and cured for use as fodder
6
(noun) acclaimed actress of stage and screen (1900-1993)
21
(noun) a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
9
(adjective) involving risk or danger
5,526
(pronoun) the man or male being (or object personified to which the masculine gender is assigned), previously designated; a pronoun of the masculine gender, usually referring to a specified subject already indicated; (noun) the 5th letter of the Hebrew alphabet
361
(verb) to go or travel towards; (noun) the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
13
(noun) pain in the head caused by dilation of cerebral arteries or muscle contractions or a reaction to drugs
30
(adjective) having a heading or caption
6
(noun) horizontal beam used as a finishing piece over a door or window
22
(noun) a line of text serving to indicate what the passage below it is about
6
(verb) publicize widely or highly, as if with a headline; (noun) the heading or caption of a newspaper article
24
(noun) (usually plural) the office that serves as the administrative center of an enterprise
8
(verb) get healthy again
21
(noun) the natural process by which the body repairs itself
232
(noun) a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
34
(adjective) having or indicating good health in body or mind; free from infirmity or disease
11
(verb) bestow in large quantities
117
(verb) perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
162
(adjective) detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
6
(noun) someone who listens attentively
64
(noun) (law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence
216
(noun) the locus of feelings and intuitions
6
(noun) home symbolized as a part of the fireplace
5
(adverb) with gusto and without reservation
31
(noun) a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
5
(adjective) showing warm and heartfelt friendliness
113
(verb) make hot or hotter; (noun) a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
18
(adjective) made warm or hot ('het' is a dialectal variant of 'heated')
7
(noun) a low evergreen shrub of the family Ericaceae; has small bell-shaped pink or purple flowers
8
(adjective) not acknowledging the God of Christianity and Judaism and Islam; (noun) a person who does not acknowledge your god
22
(noun) the process of becoming warmer; a rising temperature
65
(noun) the abode of God and the angels
14
(adjective) of or belonging to heaven or god
12
(noun) the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
30
(adverb) to a considerable degree
109
(adverb) slowly as if burdened by much weight; (adjective) of comparatively great physical weight or density
21
(noun) the ancient Canaanitic language of the Hebrews that has been revived as the official language of Israel
6
(noun) (abbreviated 'ha') a unit of surface area equal to 100 ares (or 10,000 square meters)
9
(verb) avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues); (noun) a fence formed by a row of closely planted shrubs or bushes
7
(verb) pay close attention to; give heed to
16
(verb) follow at the heels of a person; (noun) the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
9
(noun) German philosopher whose three stage process of dialectical reasoning was adopted by Karl Marx (1770-1831)
60
(noun) the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
8
(verb) become more extreme
15
(noun) a high place
23
(noun) a person who is entitled by law or by the terms of a will to inherit the estate of another
240
(adjective) occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
17
(noun) (Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
6
(noun) an aircraft without wings that obtains its lift from the rotation of overhead blades
37
(noun) any place of pain and turmoil
7
(noun) an expression of greeting; (exclamation) used as a greeting or to begin a phone conversation
6
(noun) armor plate that protects the head
352
(verb) give help or assistance; be of service
7
(noun) a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
30
(adjective) providing assistance or serving a useful function
29
(noun) an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal
10
(adjective) lacking in or deprived of strength or power
13
(noun) half of the terrestrial globe
8
(noun) the flow of blood from a ruptured blood vessel; (verb) lose blood from one's body
10
(noun) adult female chicken
98
(adverb) from this place
7
(adverb) from this time forth; from now on
109
(noun) a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second
7
(adjective) pertaining to or affecting the liver
6
(noun) inflammation of the liver caused by a virus or a toxin
2,195
(pronoun) the form of the objective and the possessive case of the personal pronoun 'she'
12
(noun) (formal) a person who announces important news
12
(noun) a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests
18
(noun) United States musician and composer and conductor noted for his comic operas (1859-1924)
17
(verb) cause to herd, drive, or crowd together; (noun) a group of cattle or sheep or other domestic mammals all of the same kind that are herded by humans
581
(adverb) in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is; (noun) the present location; this place
13
(adverb) in a future life or state
11
(adverb) (formal) by means of this
11
(adjective) inherited or inheritable by established rules (usually legal rules) of descent
8
(adverb) in this place or thing or document
8
(noun) a belief that rejects the orthodox tenets of a religion
5
(noun) a person who holds religious beliefs in conflict with the dogma of the Roman Catholic Church
5
(adverb) used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time
19
(noun) practices that are handed down from the past by tradition
6
(noun) United States jazz musician and bandleader (1913-1987)
45
(noun) a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
14
(adjective) relating to or characteristic of heroes of antiquity
7
(noun) the main good female character in a work of fiction
13
(pronoun) used to refer to a thing or things belonging to or associated with a female person or animal previously mentioned
107
(pronoun) an emphasized form of the third person feminine pronoun; used as a subject with 'she'
18
(verb) pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
9
(noun) indecision in speech or action
7
(adjective) consisting of elements that are not of the same kind or nature
10
(exclamation) used to attract attention, to express surprise, interest, or annoyance, or to elicit agreement
20
(noun) an expression of greeting
34
(adjective) designed to elude detection
36
(verb) prevent from being seen or discovered; (noun) the dressed skin of an animal (especially a large animal)
12
(noun) the state of being hidden
8
(adjective) classified according to various criteria into successive levels or layers
22
(noun) a series of ordered groupings of people or things within a system
591
(adverb) at a great altitude; (adjective) greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
202
(adjective) advanced in complexity or elaboration
6
(noun) a mountainous region of northern Scotland famous for its rugged beauty; known for the style of dress (the kilt and tartan) and the clan system (now in disuse)
19
(verb) apply a highlighter to one's cheeks or eyebrows in order to make them more prominent; (noun) the most interesting or memorable part
104
(adverb) to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
6
(noun) the quality of being high or lofty
29
(noun) a major road for any form of motor transport
126
(verb) form into a hill; (noun) a local and well-defined elevation of the land
1,587
(pronoun) used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to a male person or animal previously mentioned or easily identified
419
(pronoun) an emphasized form of the third person masculine pronoun; used as a subject usually with 'he'
7
(noun) any of several mostly spotted fishes that resemble groupers
10
(verb) put at a disadvantage; (adjective) located at or near the back of an animal
18
(adjective) of or relating to or supporting Hinduism; (noun) a native or inhabitant of Hindustan or India
8
(verb) attach with a hinge; (noun) a joint that holds two parts together so that one can swing relative to the other
25
(verb) drop a hint; intimate by a hint; (noun) an indirect suggestion
17
(noun) either side of the body below the waist and above the thigh
21
(verb) engage or hire for work; (noun) a newly hired employee
16
(adjective) having services engaged for a fee
4,855
(pronoun) belonging or pertaining to 'him'; used as a pronominal adjective or adjective pronoun
7
(adjective) related to a Spanish-speaking people or culture
41
(noun) a person who is an authority on history and who studies it and writes about it
22
(adjective) belonging to the past; of what is important or famous in the past
120
(adjective) of or relating to the study of history
13
(adverb) throughout history
387
(noun) the aggregate of past events
49
(verb) cause to move by striking; (noun) (baseball) a successful stroke in an athletic contest (especially in baseball)
20
(adverb) used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time
21
(noun) German Nazi dictator during World War II (1889-1945)
5
(noun) the act of contacting one thing with another
13
(noun) infection by the human immunodeficiency virus
17
(noun) a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; occurs together with yttrium; forms highly magnetic compounds
7
(verb) take greedily; take more than one's share; (noun) a person regarded as greedy and pig-like
5
(verb) raise or haul up with or as if with mechanical help; (noun) lifting device for raising heavy or cumbersome objects
174
(verb) have or hold in one's hands or grip; (noun) power by which something or someone is affected or dominated
22
(noun) a holding device
82
(noun) something owned; any tangible or intangible possession that is owned by someone
60
(verb) hit the ball into the hole; (noun) an opening into or through something
23
(noun) a day on which work is suspended by law or custom
8
(noun) the quality of being holy
22
(noun) a constitutional monarchy in western Europe on the North Sea; half the country lies below sea level
19
(verb) remove the interior of; (adjective) not solid; having a space or gap or cavity
11
(adjective) of or relating to the film industry in the United States; (noun) the film industry of the United States
11
(noun) United States jurist noted for his liberal opinions (1841-1935)
5
(noun) an act of mass destruction and loss of life (especially in war or by fire)
84
(adjective) belonging to or derived from or associated with a divine power
6
(noun) respectful deference
391
(adverb) at or to or in the direction of one's home or family; (verb) provide with, or send to, a home
7
(noun) the country where you were born
5
(adjective) without nationality or citizenship; (noun) someone unfortunate without housing
11
(verb) hit a home run; (noun) a base hit on which the batter scores a run
5
(verb) settle land given by the government and occupy it as a homestead; (noun) the home and adjacent grounds occupied by a family
12
(adjective) all of the same or similar kind or nature
9
(adjective) sexually attracted to members of your own sex; (noun) someone who is sexually attracted to persons of the same sex
5
(noun) a sexual attraction to (or sexual relations with) persons of the same sex
30
(adjective) not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent
7
(adverb) (used as intensives reflecting the speaker's attitude) it is sincerely the case that
9
(noun) the quality of being honest
15
(verb) sweeten with honey; (adjective) of something having the color of honey
47
(verb) bestow honor or rewards upon; (noun) the state of being honored
10
(adjective) worthy of being honored; entitled to honor and respect
8
(adjective) having an illustrious reputation; respected
42
(verb) bestow honor or rewards upon; (noun) the state of being honored
12
(adjective) worthy of being honored; entitled to honor and respect
5
(noun) a university degree with honors
12
(verb) cover with a hood; (noun) an aggressive and violent young criminal
12
(verb) fasten with a hook; (noun) a catch for locking a door
7
(noun) United States industrialist who manufactured vacuum cleaners (1849-1932)
8
(verb) jump lightly; (noun) the act of hopping; jumping upward or forward (especially on one foot)
226
(verb) expect and wish; (noun) a specific instance of feeling hopeful
5
(adjective) having or manifesting hope
8
(adjective) without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
12
(noun) United States educator and theologian (1802-1887)
10
(noun) Roman lyric poet said to have influenced English poetry (65-8 BC)
24
(noun) the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
34
(adjective) parallel to or in the plane of the horizon or a base line; (noun) something that is oriented horizontally
24
(noun) the secretion of an endocrine gland that is transmitted by the blood to the tissue on which it has a specific effect
26
(verb) stab or pierce with a horn or tusk; (noun) a noisemaker (as at parties or games) that makes a loud noise when you blow through it
11
(adjective) provoking horror
22
(noun) intense and profound fear
129
(verb) provide with a horse or horses; (noun) solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
6
(adverb) on the back of a horse; (noun) the back of a horse
5
(noun) a man skilled in equitation
5
(verb) water with a hose; (noun) man's close-fitting garment of the 16th and 17th centuries covering the legs and reaching up to the waist; worn with a doublet
106
(noun) a health facility where patients receive treatment
8
(noun) kindness in welcoming guests or strangers
56
(verb) be the host of or for; (noun) a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
23
(adjective) characterized by enmity or ill will; (noun) troops belonging to the enemy's military forces
7
(noun) fighting; acts of overt warfare
15
(noun) a hostile (very unfriendly) disposition
82
(adjective) used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
61
(noun) a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
6
(noun) United States publisher who founded a printing shop that became an important book publisher (1823-1895)
6
(verb) pursue or chase relentlessly; (noun) any of several breeds of dog used for hunting typically having large drooping ears
116
(noun) a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
160
(noun) a period of time assigned for work
517
(verb) contain or cover; (noun) a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
65
(noun) a social unit living together
49
(noun) structures collectively in which people are housed
10
(noun) the largest city in Texas; located in southeastern Texas near the Gulf of Mexico; site of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
7
(verb) be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
847
(preposition) used in questions, the way or manner in which
23
(noun) English actor of stage and screen (1893-1943)
8
(noun) United States editor (1920-1993)
698
(adverb) despite anything to the contrary (usually preceding a concession)
11
(noun) a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
6
(noun) a set of tags and rules (conforming to SGML) for using them in developing hypertext documents
14
(noun) a New York river; flows southward into New York Bay; explored by Henry Hudson early in the 17th century
8
(verb) take on color or become colored; (noun) the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength
7
(verb) fit closely or tightly; (noun) a tight or amorous embrace
44
(adjective) unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
11
(noun) English poet (born in 1930)
6
(noun) French poet and novelist and dramatist; leader of the romantic movement in France (1802-1885)
12
(verb) remove the hulls from; (noun) dry outer covering of a fruit or seed or nut
6
(verb) sing with closed lips; (noun) a humming noise
375
(adjective) characteristic of humanity
6
(adjective) marked or motivated by concern with the alleviation of suffering
6
(adjective) of or relating to or characteristic of humanitarianism; (noun) someone devoted to the promotion of human welfare and to social reforms
32
(noun) the quality of being humane
24
(noun) all of the living human inhabitants of the earth
20
(verb) cause to be unpretentious; (adjective) marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful
9
(noun) Scottish philosopher skeptical philosophy restricted human knowledge to that which can be perceived by the senses (1711-1776)
7
(noun) wetness in the atmosphere
7
(noun) state of disgrace or loss of self-respect
8
(noun) a disposition to be humble; a lack of false pride
16
(verb) put into a good mood; (noun) the trait of appreciating (and being able to express) the humorous
12
(verb) put into a good mood; (noun) a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
186
(adjective) being ten more than ninety; (noun) ten 10s
12
(adjective) relating to or characteristic of Hungary; (noun) a native or inhabitant of Hungary
15
(noun) a republic in central Europe
16
(verb) feel the need to eat; (noun) a physiological need for food; the consequence of food deprivation
16
(adjective) feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food
23
(verb) pursue for food or sport (as of wild animals); (noun) an association of huntsmen who hunt for sport
27
(noun) someone who hunts game
26
(noun) the activity of looking thoroughly in order to find something or someone
6
(noun) a severe tropical cyclone usually with heavy rains and winds moving at 63-136 knots (12 on the Beaufort scale)
12
(adjective) moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
13
(noun) a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
35
(verb) give trouble or pain to; (adjective) suffering from physical injury especially that suffered in battle
113
(noun) a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
19
(noun) temporary military shelter
13
(adjective) produced by crossbreeding; (noun) a composite of mixed origin
8
(adjective) moved or operated or effected by liquid (water or oil)
8
(noun) an organic compound containing only carbon and hydrogen
31
(noun) a nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas; the simplest and lightest and most abundant element in the universe
8
(noun) a condition promoting sanitary practices
14
(verb) sing a hymn; (noun) a song of praise (to God or to a saint or to a nation)
10
(noun) a common disorder in which blood pressure remains abnormally high (a reading of 140/90 mm Hg or greater)
52
(noun) a proposal intended to explain certain facts or observations
8
(noun) a hypothetical possibility, circumstance, statement, proposal, situation, etc.
5
(noun) the unit of frequency; one hertz has a periodic interval of one second (named for Heinrich Rudolph Hertz)