hint

/ˈhint/

probably alteration of obsolete hent act of seizing, from hent, verb

noun

  1. a statement that expresses indirectly what one prefers not to say explicitly

  2. an indirect or general suggestion for how to do or solve something

  3. a slight indication of the existence, approach, or nature of something : clue

had been dropping hints that he would like to be invited

helpful hints for inexperienced cooks

verb

  1. to convey indirectly and by allusion rather than explicitly

  2. to give an indirect suggestion or piece of evidence that leads one toward the solution of a problem : to give a hint —usually used with at

a suspicion that she scarcely dared to hint

suggest imply hint intimate insinuate mean to convey an idea indirectly. suggest may stress putting into the mind by association of ideas, awakening of a desire, or initiating a train of thought. imply is close to suggest but may indicate a more definite or logical relation of the unexpressed idea to the expressed.

phrasal verb

  1. to talk about (something) in an indirect way

He's been hinting at the possibility of running for mayor.