1
: overall character or appearance to the mind : complexion, aspect
political parties of every hueLouis Wasserman
2
a
: color
all the hues of the rainbow
b
: gradation of color
the hues and shades of twilightColin Clark
c
: the attribute of colors that permits them to be classed as red, yellow, green, blue, or an intermediate between any contiguous pair of these colors
red with an orange hue
compare brightness sense 2, lightness sense 2a, saturation sense 4

Examples of hue in a Sentence

We decorated the room in hues of blue and green. decorated the room in hues of blue and green
Recent Examples on the Web And now a step beyond last year’s color-drenching trend, which saw entire rooms bathed in one hue from top to bottom, comes the exuberance of pattern drenching. Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Mar. 2024 The most classic variety is French hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla), also called bigleaf hydrangeas, have large round flowers, called mopheads, that come in a range of blue, pink, and white hues. Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2024 Examples: Guinness Foreign Export Stout, Modern Times City of the Dead. Irish Red Ale: Maroon hues, caramel/toffee notes, dry finish, low to moderate alcohol. Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2024 In a city of intense hues, heavy fabrics, and French architecture, Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery is a breath of fresh air. Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2024 The natural colors and textures of the ’30s were an irresistible alternative to the microskirt and synthetic fabrics in psychedelic hues then in style. Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2024 The pillows are available in several spring hues to bring life into any outdoor setting. Nora Colomer, Fox News, 8 Mar. 2024 Those with blonde hair will benefit from the gold or purple gloss, while brunettes will experience a richer chocolate hue with the blue formula. Mary Honkus, Glamour, 7 Mar. 2024 Current Bachelor Joey Graziadei addressed the comments surrounding his yellow eyes, sharing that the hue is rooted in a mild liver condition called Gilbert syndrome. EW.com, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hue.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hewe, from Old English hīw; akin to Old Norse plant down, Goth hiwi form

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hue was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near hue

Cite this Entry

“Hue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hue. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hue

noun
1
2
: a particular variety of a color : shade
3
: an aspect of colors that allows them to be identified as red, yellow, green, blue, or something between any two of these colors

Medical Definition

hue

noun
: the one of the three psychological dimensions of color perception that permits them to be classified as red, yellow, green, blue, or an intermediate between any contiguous pair of these colors and that is correlated with the wavelength or the combination of wavelengths comprising the stimulus compare brightness, saturation sense 4a

Geographical Definition

Hue

geographical name

ˈ(h)wā How to pronounce Hue (audio)
hü-ˈā,
hyü-ˈā
variants or French Hué
city and port in central Vietnam; formerly capital of Annam population 302,983

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