hie: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Archaic/Literary/RareLiterary, archaic, poetic. Not used in contemporary everyday speech except for deliberate stylistic or humorous effect.
Quick answer
What does “hie” mean?
To go quickly or hasten.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To go quickly or hasten.
An archaic or literary command to move with speed or urgency; also used reflexively (hie oneself).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant modern regional differences; both treat it as equally archaic. Slightly more likely to appear in British historical or fantasy literature due to older literary traditions.
Connotations
Evokes medieval, Shakespearean, or fantasy settings (e.g., Tolkien). Can sound quaint, whimsical, or pompous if used in modern contexts.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both varieties. Possibly seen more in crossword puzzles or historical texts than in actual usage.
Grammar
How to Use “hie” in a Sentence
NP hie PP (to/from)NP hie oneself PPNP hie ADV (hence/thither/away)Imperative: Hie!Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hie” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- 'Hie thee to a nunnery,' he declared with Shakespearean flair.
- The messenger was told to hie hence to the neighbouring shire.
- We must hie home before the storm breaks.
American English
- The pioneer urged his family to hie westward before winter.
- 'Hie yourselves along now,' the old-timer drawled with a smirk.
- The knight would hie to the rescue at once.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial use.
American English
- No standard adverbial use.
adjective
British English
- No standard adjectival use.
American English
- No standard adjectival use.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical linguistics or analysis of older literary texts.
Everyday
Effectively zero. If used, it is for humorous or affected speech.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hie”
- Using it in modern prose unironically.
- Misspelling as 'high'.
- Using it without a reflexive pronoun where one is needed (e.g., 'He hied to the castle' is borderline; 'He hied himself to the castle' is more standard for the era).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered archaic or literary. You will encounter it almost exclusively in older texts, poetry, historical fiction, or fantasy genres.
Both mean to move quickly, but 'hasten' is standard modern English (if slightly formal), while 'hie' is archaic. 'Hasten' can also mean 'to cause to happen sooner' (transitive), which 'hie' cannot.
'Hie to' is the classic collocation (e.g., hie to the castle). 'Hie toward' is less common but possible in archaic usage. The most typical adverbs are 'hence', 'thither', and 'home'.
Yes. The standard past tense is 'hied' (pronounced the same as 'hide'). For example, 'He hied himself to the market yesterday.'
To go quickly or hasten.
Hie is usually literary, archaic, poetic. not used in contemporary everyday speech except for deliberate stylistic or humorous effect. in register.
Hie: in British English it is pronounced /haɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /haɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Hie thee hence!”
- “To hie and seek (a punning archaism).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: "HIE is a HIGH-speed, old-timey word for 'go quickly'." It rhymes with 'high' and 'fly', both associated with speed.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS MOTION / PURPOSEFUL ACTIVITY IS JOURNEYING (e.g., hie to your duties).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'hie' be MOST appropriately used today?