hello

Definitions

1interjectionA greeting used when meeting someone or starting a conversation.

Hello! How are you today?

She answered the phone with a cheerful hello.

When he walked into the room, everyone turned to say hello.

Word Origin

Language

English

Originally meant

an expression of greeting

Background

The word 'hello' became popular in the late 19th century as a greeting, especially with the advent of the telephone. It was suggested by Thomas Edison as a way to start a phone conversation.