HIRE Synonyms: 108 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'hire' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of hire are charter , lease , let , and rent . While all these words mean "to engage or grant for use at a price," hire and let , strictly speaking, are complementary terms, hire implying the act of engaging or taking for use and let the granting of use. // we hired a car for the summer // decided to let the cottage to a young couple

Q: In what contexts can 'charter' take the place of 'hire'?

The synonyms charter and hire are sometimes interchangeable, but charter applies to the hiring or letting of a vehicle usually for exclusive use. // charter a bus to go to the game

Q: When can 'lease' be used instead of 'hire'?

The words lease and hire can be used in similar contexts, but lease strictly implies a letting under the terms of a contract but is often applied to hiring on a lease. // the diplomat leased an apartment for a year

Q: When is it sensible to use 'rent' instead of 'hire'?

Although the words rent and hire have much in common, rent stresses the payment of money for the full use of property and may imply either hiring or letting. // instead of buying a house, they decided to rent // will not rent to families with children

hire 1 of 2

verb

Definition of hire

as in to rent

to take or get the temporary use of (something) for a set sum the Youngs hired a limousine for their daughter's wedding

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to employ

to provide with a paying job the farm hires teenagers to pick blueberries in the summer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hire

2 of 2

noun

ˈhī(-ə)r

as in employ

the state of being provided with a paying job he spent most of his career in the hire of high-paying defense contractors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in salary

the money paid regularly to a person for labor or services used to mow lawns for hire

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word hire different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of hire are charter, lease, let, and rent. While all these words mean "to engage or grant for use at a price," hire and let, strictly speaking, are complementary terms, hire implying the act of engaging or taking for use and let the granting of use.

we hired a car for the summer

decided to let the cottage to a young couple

In what contexts can charter take the place of hire?

The synonyms charter and hire are sometimes interchangeable, but charter applies to the hiring or letting of a vehicle usually for exclusive use.

charter a bus to go to the game

When can lease be used instead of hire?

The words lease and hire can be used in similar contexts, but lease strictly implies a letting under the terms of a contract but is often applied to hiring on a lease.

the diplomat leased an apartment for a year

When is it sensible to use rent instead of hire?

Although the words rent and hire have much in common, rent stresses the payment of money for the full use of property and may imply either hiring or letting.

instead of buying a house, they decided to rent

will not rent to families with children

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of hire

Verb

Many luxury brands boarded up their stores and hired private security in anticipation. — Sophie Lou Wilson, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026 Look for a credential other employers recognize and a union or employer partner committed to hiring. — Alok Chanani, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Noun

Cavanagh cited new hires, including that of Luc Bondar to the role of chief brand and commercial officer for Universal Destinations and Experiences, as steps the company was taking to address these challenges. — Catriona Marangi, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026 That may be at the heart of the stunning shake up at the company over the last week, which saw content chief Bela Bejaria, film head Dan Lin and 1,000 or so other employees let go in a plan to refocus the company’s content under new hire Peter Rice. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hire

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hire

Verb

Home ownership doesn’t always mean stability, so consider these factors before deciding whether to rent or buy.

— Maurie Backman, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
New York has long been one of the most expensive places in the country to rent.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of rent

Verb

The location is set to employ around 100 people and will feature a full-service dining room and bar, private dining room, carryout, delivery and catering service, a news release from Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria said.

— Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Much of that growth came from banks and other financial firms hiring AI talent, though the Bay Area still employs more AI specialists.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of employ

Noun

Those with high levels of hope had better later outcomes in health, education and employment.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
The convergence of young people’s anger over education and employment, fears of authoritarianism, and concern for the sanctity of the vote poses a serious challenge to the Modi government.

— Asim Ali, Time, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of employment

Noun

Opinion polls predict tight race Domestically, Vucic has pledged higher pensions and public sector salaries, investment in state healthcare and subsidies for young couples.

— Reuters, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2026
The players and their union vow to keep it that way, and union chief Bruce Meyer said every proposal the owners make on every issue is contingent upon a salary cap.

— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of salary

Verb

This cycle, Scudder, with help from the political-action committee Texas Majority, set out to make sure that no race in the state went uncontested, and successfully recruited candidates for each of a hundred and thirty-seven seats.

— Jesús Rodríguez, New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2026
That would begin the process of hiring an executive director, developing operational procedures and recruiting mental health professionals and other responders.

— Chevall Pryce, Baltimore Sun, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of recruit

Noun

Iceland, long a leader in gender equality, subsidizes childcare, legislates equal wages, gives paid parental leave to both men and women, and has a gender equality act that includes a quota for women on boards.

— Christine Ledbetter, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
The president has touted billions of dollars in federal investment projects as evidence of prosperity and pointed to rising wages in the manufacturing sector as evidence of an economic turnaround.

— Amy L. Wong, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of wage

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hipsters

hire

hired

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Style

“Hire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hire. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of hire

verb

noun

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