hat

UK: /ˈhæt/ US: /hæt/ ,(hat)

Inflections of 'hat' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

hats

v 3rd person singular

hatting

v pres p

hatted

v past

hatted

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

hat /hæt/   n., v., hat•ted, hat•ting. 
n. [countable]

1. Clothing a shaped covering for the head, usually with a crown and often a brim.

v. [~ + object]

2. to provide with a hat;
   put a hat on.

Idioms

3. eat one's hat, This phrase is used to express disbelief that something will happen:
   If that train arrives on time, I'll eat my hat.
4. Idioms hat in hand, humbly and respectfully:
   I asked for help, hat in hand.
5. Idioms pass the hat, to ask for contributions of money, as for charity:
   They passed the hat and took in almost $500.
6. Idioms take one's hat off to, [~ + object] to express high regard for;
   praise:
   I take my hat off to her; she deserves the award.
7. Idioms talk through one's hat, [no object] to make unsupported absurd statements.
8. Idioms throw or toss one's hat in or into the ring, to declare one's candidacy:
   He threw his hat in the ring and ran for the presidency.
9. Idioms under one's hat, secret;
   confidential:
   Keep this information under your hat.
10. Idioms wear two or several hats, to work in more than one capacity: fill two or more positions:
    He's wearing two hats: chairman of the department and assistant to the dean.

hat•less, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

hat  (hat), n., v., hat•ted, hat•ting. 
n. 

1. a shaped covering for the head, usually with a crown and brim, esp. for wear outdoors.
2. Religion [Rom. Cath. Ch.]
   • the distinctive head covering of a cardinal.
   • the office or dignity of a cardinal. Cf. red hat.
3. Idioms hat in hand, humbly;
   respectfully:
   He approached the boss, hat in hand.
4. Idioms pass the hat, to ask for contributions of money, as for charity;
   take up a collection:
   The lodge members passed the hat to send underprivileged children to summer camp.
5. Idioms take off one's hat to, to express high regard for;
   praise:
   We took off our hats to their courage and daring.
6. Idioms talk through one's hat, to speak without knowing the facts;
   make unsupported or incorrect statements:
   He is talking through his hat when he says he'll make the team.
7. Idioms throw or toss one's hat in or into the ring, to become a participant in a contest, esp. to declare one's candidacy for political office:
   His friends are urging him to throw his hat in the ring.
8. Idioms under one's hat, confidential;
   private;
   secret:
   I'll tell you the real story, but keep it under your hat.
9. Idioms wear two or several hats, to function in more than one capacity;
   fill two or more positions:
   He wears two hats, serving as the company's comptroller as well as its chief executive officer.

v.t. 

10. to provide with a hat;
    put a hat on.

• bef. 900; Middle English; Old English hætt; cognate with Old Norse hǫttr hood; akin to hood¹

hat′less, adj. 
hat′less•ness, n. 
hat′like′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

hat / hæt/ noun

1. any of various head coverings, esp one with a brim and a shaped crown
2. a role or capacity
3. I'll eat my hat ⇒ I will be greatly surprised if (something that proves me wrong) happens
4. keep something under one's hat ⇒ to keep something secret
5. pass the hat round, send the hat round ⇒ to collect money, as for a cause
6. take off one's hat to ⇒ to admire or congratulate
7. talk through one's hat ⇒ to talk foolishly
8. to deceive or bluff

verb (hats, hatting, hatted)

1. (transitive) to supply (a person, etc) with a hat or put a hat on (someone)

Etymology: Old English hætt; related to Old Norse höttr cap, Latin cassis helmet; see hood¹

ˈhatless adjective

ˈhatlessness noun