hail

Small balls of ice that fall from clouds like rain.

• Hail hit the windows.
• The hail damaged several cars.
• We sheltered under a tree until the hail stopped.

Common phrases: heavy hail, hail storm, hail damage

A large number of things flying toward someone or something at once.

• A hail of stones struck the bus.
• They escaped a hail of bullets.
• The explosion sent a hail of glass across the street.

How to use it: a hail of something (The soldiers ran through a hail of bullets.)

Similar words: shower, barrage

Common phrases: hail of bullets, hail of stones, hail of arrows

To publicly praise someone or something as very good or important.

• Scientists hailed the discovery.
• The press hailed her as a great leader.
• Their victory was hailed as a historic achievement.

How to use it: hail someone/something as something (Critics hailed the film as a masterpiece.)

Similar words: praise, acclaim, celebrate

Opposites: criticize

Common phrases: hail a breakthrough, hail someone as something, hail a success

To call or signal to someone so they notice you or stop.

• We tried to hail a taxi.
• She hailed the driver from across the street.
• The captain hailed a passing boat.

Similar words: call, signal to

Common phrases: hail a taxi, hail a cab, hail someone

If it does this, small balls of ice fall from the clouds.

• It began to hail.
• It hailed all afternoon yesterday.
• Do you think it will hail tonight?

How to use it: it hails (It sometimes hails here in spring.)

Common phrases: hail heavily, hail outside

To call someone or something by a particular name or title.

• They hailed him as king.
• The villagers hailed her as their rescuer.
• The invention was hailed as the answer to their problems.

How to use it: hail someone/something as something (The crowd hailed him as their new king.)

Similar words: name, declare, proclaim

Common phrases: hail someone as something, hail a hero

To send small balls of ice falling down.

• The cloud began to hail.
• Dark clouds hailed ice onto the fields.
• The storm hailed down on the empty road.

Common phrases: hail down, clouds hail