verb (used with object), hired, hir·ing.
- to engage the services of (a person or persons) for wages or other payment: to hire a clerk.
- to engage the temporary use of at a set price; rent: to hire a limousine.
noun
- the act of hiring.
- the state or condition of being hired.
- the price or compensation paid or contracted to be paid for the temporary use of something or for personal services or labor; pay: The laborer is worthy of his hire.
- Informal. a person hired or to be hired: Most of our new hires are college-educated.
adjective
- British. available for hire; rental: a hire car.
Verb Phrases
- hire on, to obtain employment; take a job: They hired on as wranglers with the rodeo.
- hire out, to offer or exchange one’s services for payment: He hired himself out as a handyman.
- for hire, available for use or service in exchange for payment.Also on hire.
verb (tr)
- to acquire the temporary use of (a thing) or the services of (a person) in exchange for payment
- to employ (a person) for wages
- (often foll by out) to provide (something) or the services of (oneself or others) for an agreed payment, usually for an agreed period
- (tr foll by out) mainly British to pay independent contractors for (work to be done)
noun
-
- the act of hiring or the state of being hired
- (as modifier)a hire car
-
- the price paid or payable for a person’s services or the temporary use of something
- (as modifier)the hire charge
- for hire or on hire available for service or temporary use in exchange for payment
Old English hyrian “pay for service, employ for wages, engage,” from Proto-Germanic *hurjan (cf. Danish hyre, Old Frisian hera, Dutch huren, German heuern “to hire, rent”). Reflexively, “to agree to work for wages” from mid-13c. Related: Hired; hiring.
“payment for work, use, or services; wages,” from Old English hyr “wages; interest, usury,” from Proto-Germanic *hurja- (see hire (v.)).
Obtain work; also, grant the services or temporary use of for a fee, as in He hired out as a cook, or They hired out the cottage for the summer. [Second half of 1700s]