Oxford 3000 Words Starting with H – Complete List with Meanings & Quizzes

habit noun

Short meaning: something you do regularly, often without thinking.

Example: Waking up early is a good habit.

hair noun

Short meaning: the soft strands that grow on your head or body.

Example: She has long black hair.

hairdresser noun

Short meaning: a person whose job is cutting and styling hair.

Example: I have an appointment with the hairdresser.

half noun / adjective

Short meaning: one of two equal parts of something.

Example: He ate half the cake.

hall noun

Short meaning: a large room or a passage inside a building.

Example: We waited in the school hall.

hammer noun / verb

Short meaning (noun): a tool used for hitting nails.

Short meaning (verb): to hit something with a hammer.

Example: He used a hammer to fix the table.

hand noun / verb

Short meaning (noun): the part of your body at the end of your arm.

Short meaning (verb): to give something to someone.

Example: Please hand me the book.

handle verb / noun

Short meaning (verb): to manage or deal with something.

Short meaning (noun): the part of an object used to hold or carry it.

Example: She can handle any problem calmly.

hang verb

Short meaning: to attach something so that it is supported from above.

Example: They hung the picture on the wall.

happen verb

Short meaning: to take place; to occur.

Example: What happened yesterday?

happily adverb

Short meaning: in a happy or cheerful way.

Example: They lived happily together.

happy adjective

Short meaning: feeling or showing pleasure or joy.

Example: She was very happy with the results.

hard adjective / adverb

Short meaning (adj): difficult; requiring effort.

Short meaning (adv): with a lot of effort.

Example: She works hard every day.

hardly adverb

Short meaning: almost not; barely.

Example: I hardly know him.

harm noun / verb

Short meaning (noun): damage or injury.

Short meaning (verb): to injure or damage.

Example: The chemicals can cause harm.

harmful adjective

Short meaning: causing harm or damage.

Example: Smoking is harmful to health.

harmless adjective

Short meaning: not causing harm; safe.

Example: The spider looked scary but was harmless.

hat noun

Short meaning: a piece of clothing worn on the head.

Example: She wore a red hat to the party.

hate verb / noun

Short meaning (verb): to strongly dislike something or someone.

Short meaning (noun): strong dislike.

Example: I hate waking up early.

hatred noun

Short meaning: a very strong feeling of dislike.

Example: The speech was full of hatred.

have verb

Short meaning: to own, hold, or experience something; also used as an auxiliary verb.

Example: They have two children.

have to modal verb

Short meaning: used to express obligation or necessity.

Example: I have to finish this today.

he pronoun

Short meaning: used to refer to a male person already mentioned.

Example: He is my brother.

head noun / verb

Short meaning (noun): the top part of your body containing the brain.

Short meaning (verb): to go in a particular direction.

Example: They headed north.

headache noun

Short meaning: pain in the head.

Example: I have a terrible headache.

heal verb

Short meaning: to become healthy again or to make someone healthy.

Example: The wound will heal soon.

health noun

Short meaning: the condition of your body and mind.

Example: Exercise is important for good health.

healthy adjective

Short meaning: physically strong and not sick; good for your body.

Example: She eats a healthy diet.

hear verb

Short meaning: to receive sound with your ears.

Example: I can’t hear you clearly.

hear from phrasal verb

Short meaning: to get a message or communication from someone.

Example: I haven't heard from her in weeks.

hearing noun

Short meaning: the ability to hear; also, an official meeting in court.

Example: His hearing is excellent.

hear of phrasal verb

Short meaning: to know about something or someone.

Example: Have you ever heard of this author?

heart noun

Short meaning: the organ that pumps blood; also the center of feelings.

Example: My heart was beating fast.

heat noun / verb

Short meaning (noun): high temperature or warmth.

Short meaning (verb): to make something warm or hot.

Example: Heat the soup before eating.

heating noun

Short meaning: a system used to make a building warm.

Example: The heating stopped working last night.

heaven noun

Short meaning: the place believed to be the home of God; also used to describe a perfect place.

Example: The cake tasted like heaven.

heavily adverb

Short meaning: to a great degree; strongly or seriously.

Example: It was raining heavily last night.

heavy adjective

Short meaning: weighing a lot; hard to lift or move.

Example: The box was too heavy to carry.

heel noun

Short meaning: the back part of your foot, or the part of a shoe that supports it.

Example: Her heel was hurting after the long walk.

height noun

Short meaning: the measurement of how tall someone or something is.

Example: His height is 180 cm.

hell noun

Short meaning: in some religions, a place of suffering after death; also used for a very unpleasant situation.

Example: The traffic was hell this morning.

hello exclamation

Short meaning: a common word used as a greeting.

Example: Hello! How are you?

help verb / noun

Short meaning (verb): to make something easier for someone or give support.

Short meaning (noun): assistance or support.

Example: Can you help me with this?

helpful adjective

Short meaning: giving help; making something easier or better.

Example: Your advice was very helpful.

help out phrasal verb

Short meaning: to assist someone, especially in a difficult situation.

Example: She helped out at the store on weekends.

her pronoun / determiner

Short meaning: used to refer to a female person; also used to show possession.

Example: I saw her yesterday.

here adverb

Short meaning: in this place or position.

Example: Please come here.

hero noun

Short meaning: someone who is admired for bravery or good qualities.

Example: Firefighters are heroes to many people.

hers pronoun

Short meaning: something that belongs to a female person.

Example: That book is hers.

herself pronoun (reflexive)

Short meaning: the reflexive form of ‘she,’ referring back to the same female person.

Example: She made the dress herself.

hesitate verb

Short meaning: to pause before doing or saying something because you feel unsure.

Example: Don’t hesitate to ask for help.

hi exclamation

Short meaning: an informal way to say “hello.”

Example: Hi! How was your day?

hide verb

Short meaning: to put something or someone where it cannot be seen.

Example: She hid the gift in the closet.

high adjective / adverb

Short meaning (adj.): great in height or level.

Short meaning (adv.): at or to a high level.

Example: The mountain is very high.

highlight verb / noun

Short meaning (verb): to emphasize or draw attention to something.

Short meaning (noun): the best or most important part of something.

Example: The concert was the highlight of the trip.

highly adverb

Short meaning: very; to a great degree.

Example: She is highly skilled.

high school noun

Short meaning: a school for students aged about 14–18.

Example: She graduated from high school last year.

highway noun

Short meaning: a wide main road used for fast, long-distance travel.

Example: They drove along the highway for hours.

hill noun

Short meaning: a small area of land that is higher than the land around it.

Example: They walked up the hill to see the view.

him pronoun

Short meaning: the object form of ‘he.’

Example: I saw him at the store.

himself pronoun (reflexive)

Short meaning: the reflexive form of ‘he,’ referring back to the same male person.

Example: He cooked the meal himself.

hip noun

Short meaning: the area on each side of the body below the waist.

Example: She injured her hip while running.

hire verb

Short meaning: to employ someone or pay to use something.

Example: The company hired two new engineers.

his determiner / pronoun

Short meaning: belonging to or connected with a male person.

Example: This is his jacket.

historical adjective

Short meaning: connected with history or past events.

Example: The city is full of historical buildings.

history noun

Short meaning: the study or record of past events.

Example: She loves studying world history.

hit verb / noun

Short meaning (verb): to strike something with force.

Short meaning (noun): a successful or popular thing.

Example: The song became a big hit.

hobby noun

Short meaning: an activity done for enjoyment in free time.

Example: Painting is her hobby.

hold verb

Short meaning: to have something in your hands or keep it in position.

Example: Can you hold this for a moment?

hold on phrasal verb

Short meaning: to wait or stop briefly.

Example: Hold on! I’m coming.

hole noun

Short meaning: an empty space or opening in something.

Example: There’s a hole in my shoe.

holiday noun

Short meaning: a day or period of time when you do not have to work; time for travel or rest.

Example: They went on holiday last month.

hollow adjective

Short meaning: empty inside; not solid.

Example: The log was hollow.

holy adjective

Short meaning: connected with religion or considered sacred.

Example: It is a holy place for many people.

home noun / adjective / adverb

Short meaning (noun): the place where you live.

Short meaning (adj./adv.): relating to or going to your place of living.

Example: I went home after work.

homework noun

Short meaning: work that students must do at home.

Example: She finished her homework before dinner.

honest adjective

Short meaning: telling the truth; not cheating or lying.

Example: She is an honest person.

honestly adverb

Short meaning: in a truthful or sincere way.

Example: Honestly, I don’t remember.

honor noun / verb

Short meaning (noun): great respect or admiration for someone.

Short meaning (verb): to show respect for someone.

Example: It was an honor to meet her.

hook noun / verb

Short meaning (noun): a curved piece of metal or plastic used to hang or catch things.

Short meaning (verb): to attach or fasten with a hook.

Example: Hang your jacket on the hook.

hope verb / noun

Short meaning (verb): to want something to happen and believe it might.

Short meaning (noun): a feeling that something good will happen.

Example: I hope you enjoy the trip.

hopefully adverb

Short meaning: used to express what you hope will happen.

Example: Hopefully, the weather will be good.

horizontal adjective

Short meaning: flat, level, or parallel to the ground.

Example: Draw a horizontal line.

horn noun

Short meaning: a hard pointed part grown on the head of some animals, or the device in a car used to make sound.

Example: He blew the car horn.

horror noun

Short meaning: a strong feeling of fear, shock, or disgust.

Example: The story filled her with horror.

horse noun

Short meaning: a large animal used for riding or carrying loads.

Example: She learned to ride a horse.

hospital noun

Short meaning: a place where sick or injured people receive medical care.

Example: He works at a hospital.

host noun / verb

Short meaning (noun): a person who receives guests.

Short meaning (verb): to organize or present an event or show.

Example: They hosted a dinner party.

hot adjective

Short meaning: having a high temperature or causing warmth.

Example: The soup is very hot.

hotel noun

Short meaning: a building where people pay to stay when traveling.

Example: We booked a room at a hotel.

hour noun

Short meaning: a period of 60 minutes.

Example: The meeting lasted an hour.

house noun / verb

Short meaning (noun): a building where people live.

Short meaning (verb): to provide a place for someone to live or stay.

Example: They bought a new house.

household noun

Short meaning: all the people living together in one home.

Example: A household usually shares expenses.

housing noun

Short meaning: buildings or places where people live.

Example: The government is building new housing.

how adverb

Short meaning: in what way or by what method.

Example: How does this machine work?

however adverb

Short meaning: used to introduce a contrast; but.

Example: I wanted to go; however, it rained.

huge adjective

Short meaning: extremely large in size or amount.

Example: They bought a huge house.

human adjective / noun

Short meaning (adjective): relating to people.

Short meaning (noun): a person.

Example: Humans need food and water to live.

humor noun

Short meaning: the quality of being amusing or funny.

Example: He has a great sense of humor.

humorous adjective

Short meaning: funny or amusing.

Example: The movie was humorous.

hungry adjective

Short meaning: wanting or needing food.

Example: I'm hungry after the long walk.

hunt verb / noun

Short meaning (verb): to chase and kill animals for food or sport.

Short meaning (noun): the activity of hunting.

Example: They hunt deer in the forest.

hunting noun

Short meaning: the activity of chasing animals for food or sport.

Example: Hunting is restricted in some areas.

hurry verb / noun

Short meaning (verb): to do something quickly because of limited time.

Short meaning (noun): the need to move quickly.

Example: Hurry, we are late!

hurt verb / adjective

Short meaning (verb): to cause physical or emotional pain.

Short meaning (adjective): injured or in pain.

Example: He hurt his knee.

husband noun

Short meaning: the man someone is married to.

Example: Her husband works abroad.