hello

UK: /həˈləʊ/ US: /hɛˈloʊ, hə-, ˈhɛloʊ/ ,(he lō′, hə-, hel′ō)

Inflections of 'hello' (n): npl: hellos

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

hellos

v 3rd person singular

helloing

v pres p

helloed

v past

helloed

v past p

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

hel•lo /hɛˈloʊ, hə-, ˈhɛloʊ/   interj., n., pl. -los. 
interj. 

1. This word is used to express a greeting, answer a telephone, or attract attention:
   Hello, how are you?
2. This word is used to express surprise, wonder, etc.:
   "Hello, what's this?'' said the detective.

n. [countable]

3. an act or instance of saying "hello'';
   greeting:
   a mumbled hello.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

hel•lo  (he lō′, hə-, hel′ō), interj., n., pl. -los, v., -loed, -lo•ing. 
interj. 

1. (used to express a greeting, answer a telephone, or attract attention.)
2. (an exclamation of surprise, wonder, elation, etc.)
3. (used derisively to question the comprehension, intelligence, or common sense of the person being addressed):
   You're gonna go out with him ? Hello!

n. 

4. the call "hello'' (used as an expression of greeting):
   She gave me a warm hello.

v.i. 

5. to say "hello'';
   to cry or shout:
   I helloed, but no one answered.

v.t. 

6. to say "hello'' to (someone):
   We helloed each other as though nothing had happened.

Also,[esp. Brit.,] hullo. 

• variant of hallo 1865–70

hello, +interj. 

1. (used derisively to question the comprehension, intelligence, or common sense of the person being addressed):
   You're gonna go out with him? Hello!

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

hello, hallo, hullo / hɛˈləʊ hə- ˈhɛləʊ/ sentence_substitute

1. an expression of greeting used on meeting a person or at the start of a telephone call
2. a call used to attract attention
3. an expression of surprise
4. an expression used to indicate that the speaker thinks his or her listener is naive or slow to realize something: Hello? Have you been on Mars for the past two weeks or something?

noun ( -los)

1. the act of saying or calling "hello"

Etymology: 19th Century: see hallo