WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025hel•lo /hɛˈloʊ, hə-, ˈhɛloʊ/USA pronunciation
interj., n., pl. -los. interj.
- This word is used to express a greeting, answer a telephone, or attract attention:Hello, how are you?
- This word is used to express surprise, wonder, etc.:"Hello, what's this?'' said the detective.
n. [countable]
- an act or instance of saying "hello'';
greeting:a mumbled hello.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025hel•lo
(he lō′, hə-, hel′ō),USA pronunciation interj., n., pl. -los, v., -loed, -lo•ing. interj.
- (used to express a greeting, answer a telephone, or attract attention.)
- (an exclamation of surprise, wonder, elation, etc.)
- (used derisively to question the comprehension, intelligence, or common sense of the person being addressed):You're gonna go out with him ? Hello!
n.
- the call "hello'' (used as an expression of greeting):She gave me a warm hello.
v.i.
- to say "hello'';
to cry or shout:I helloed, but no one answered.
v.t.
- to say "hello'' to (someone):We helloed each other as though nothing had happened.
Also,[esp. Brit.,] hullo.
hello, +
interj.
- (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/ - an expression of greeting used on meeting a person or at the start of a telephone call
- a call used to attract attention
- an expression of surprise
- 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?
( -los)- the act of saying or calling "hello"
Etymology: 19th Century: see hallo
'say hello to' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):