hire

hire — verb

1. to pay money so that you can use a vehicle, piece of equipment, or other item fo

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to pay money so that you can use a vehicle, piece of equipment, or other item for a limited period, after which you give it back to the owner

Example

Takeshi hired a car for the week so his family could explore the countryside.

hire + car + for + [time period]

We hired a large tent and chairs from a local company for the wedding reception.

hire + noun + from + [supplier]

Common collocations
  • hire a car
  • hire a boat
  • hire equipment
  • hire from
  • available for hire
Synonyms
  • rent

    the standard term in American English for paying to use things; also used in British English for long-term use of property

  • lease

    more formal, usually for long-term contracts on vehicles, property, or equipment

Antonyms
  • return

    to give the hired item back to the owner when the period is over

Grammar Patterns

hire + noun phrase

hire + noun phrase + from + noun phrase

Usage Note

This sense is the usual meaning in British English. In American English, 'rent' is used instead for vehicles, equipment, and other items.

Common Mistakes

I hired a flat in London for six months.
I rented a flat in London for six months.
For long-term accommodation, use 'rent' instead of 'hire' even in British English.

2. to give someone a job and pay them for the work they do, whether for a short per

2.verbtransitiveA2
Definition

to give someone a job and pay them for the work they do, whether for a short period of time or as a regular member of staff

Example

The restaurant hired three new chefs before the busy summer season.

hire + [number] + [role] + before/for [reason]

Christopher was hired as a software engineer soon after he finished his degree.

passive: be hired as [role]

Common collocations
  • hire staff
  • hire someone as
  • hire someone to do
  • newly hired
  • recently hired
Synonyms
  • employ

    more formal; suggests an ongoing, regular work arrangement rather than a temporary one

  • recruit

    focuses on actively finding and selecting suitable people, often for multiple positions

  • take on

    informal phrasal verb; commonly used in British English

Antonyms
  • fire

    to end someone's employment suddenly

  • dismiss

    formal; to remove someone from their job

  • lay off

    to end someone's job because there is not enough work, not because of poor performance

Grammar Patterns

hire + noun phrase

be hired + as + noun phrase

hire + noun phrase + to + infinitive

Usage Note

Subject is usually an employer (company, organization, or individual). The person hired is called an 'employee' or, more informally, a 'hire'.

Common Mistakes

I hired my friend to help me move house for free.
I asked my friend to help me move house.
'Hire' always implies payment for the work done.
The company hired him as a consultant two years.
The company hired him as a consultant for two years.
A time period needs the preposition 'for'.
Phrasal verbs

hire out

phrasal verb

To allow someone to use something that you own in exchange for money.

Sara hired out her boat to tourists during the summer.

Can I hire out your camera for the wedding this weekend?

hire yourself out

phrasal verb

To offer your own services to someone in exchange for payment.

Diego hired himself out as a guitar teacher on weekends.

She decided to hire herself out to local farms during harvest.

hire — noun

Word family

  • hired
    adjectiveB2
  • hiring
    nounB2
  • rehire
    verbC1
  • hirer
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/2

All four words relate to giving someone a job, but they differ in formality and use. 'Hire' is the most general, everyday word — you can hire anyone from a babysitter for an evening to a chief executive for a global company. 'Employ' is more formal and typically describes an ongoing work relationship with regular pay; it is common in official documents and formal writing. 'Recruit' focuses on the active search and selection process, especially when an organization tries to find and attract suitable candidates for multiple or hard-to-fill positions. 'Appoint' is the most formal, used when someone is officially chosen for a specific role or position, often in government, committees, or management. For example: 'The hotel hired extra kitchen staff for the summer.' 'The company employs over 2,000 people worldwide.' 'The university is recruiting new professors for its engineering department.' 'The board appointed Dr. Chen as the new director of research.'

hire ↗employ ↗recruit ↗appoint ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • for hire
  • on hire
  • hire purchase

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

'Hire' comes from the Old English word 'hyrian', which meant 'to pay someone for their work or service'. It is related to similar words in other Germanic languages, such as the Old Norse 'leiga' (to rent). Over time, the meaning grew from paying people for their work to also include paying for the temporary use of objects. By the Middle English period, 'hire' was already used for both employing people and renting things.