hot

When the temperature of something or someone goes up, you can use the word "hot."

• Be careful! This pan is hot.
• It’s really hot today. The temperature is 96 degrees.
• I feel really hot.
• It’s too hot!

You can also use the adjective "hot" in other ways. When something is "hot," it might be really popular:

• Tablet computers are hot right now.
• This toy is so hot, the store can’t keep it on the shelves.
• That’s a very hot color. Many people are using it for the exterior of their homes.

When "hot" is used for a person, it means that person is attractive:

• She’s so hot! Do you know who she is?
• The girls in the classroom think Justin Bieber is hot.
• Jennifer Lopez still looks hot. She’s a hottie! (The word "hottie" is the noun that’s used to describe at attractive person.)

However, the word "hot" is also used when something is stolen.

• The police think this car might be hot.
• Tony bought some hot stereo equipment from a guy in the parking lot.
• The pawnshop was selling hot merchandise, so the city closed it down.

Finally, the word "hot" means that food is spicy:

• Many items at a Thai restaurant are hot.
• Do you like hot and spicy food?

Click here to go to the Word of the Day page.

This page was first published on July 10, 2012. It was updated on July 31, 2015.