Meaning & use
hiss
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Meanings
verbintransitive
To produce a long sharp s sound, as a snake, steam or a leaking tire does.
Grammar: No object: the steam hissed. Often followed by at or from: the cat hissed at the dog.
Patterns
- something hisses
- hiss at something
The snake hissed and drew back its head.
Steam hissed from the old radiator.
The cat hissed at the barking dog.
verbtransitive or intransitive
To say something in a low, angry whisper, or to show disapproval of someone by making this sound.
Grammar: With quoted words or a clause: she hissed, Be quiet! Without an object, people hiss at a performer.
Patterns
- hiss at someone
- hiss something at someone
Be quiet, she hissed, as the speech began.
The crowd hissed when the villain walked on stage.
He hissed a warning to his friend.
nouncountable
A sharp, drawn-out s sound, or the sound of disapproval or warning.
Grammar: Usually singular with a: the hiss of steam, a loud hiss.
Patterns
- the hiss of something
- a hiss of something
I heard the hiss of the kettle from the kitchen.
The audience responded with a hiss of disapproval.
The tire let out a long hiss and went flat.
Word forms
| third person singular | hisses |
|---|---|
| past tense | hissed |
| past participle | hissed |
| -ing form | hissing |
| plural | hisses |
Common combinations
- hiss at someone
- The goose hissed at the children.
- hiss with anger
- She hissed with anger when she saw the damage.
- hiss and spit
- The cornered cat hissed and spat.
- a loud hiss
- A loud hiss came from the pipe.
- the hiss of steam
- The hiss of steam filled the kitchen.
- hiss a warning
- He hissed a warning through his teeth.
Synonyms and how they differ
- whisper
- Whisper means to speak very quietly, without the sharp s sound or the anger that hiss often adds.
- boo
- Boo is a louder shout of disapproval from a crowd, while hiss is a sharper, more sneering sound.
- fizz
- Fizz describes bubbling gas and a softer sound, whereas hiss is longer and sharper.
- sizzle
- Sizzle usually means the crackling sound of hot food frying, while hiss is smoother and more constant.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: hiss or his?
hiss vs his
His is a possessive word and is pronounced with a z sound at the end, while hiss ends with a sharp s.
Practice
The angry goose ___ at the children who came too close.
Choose one answer.
Geese and snakes hiss as a warning. Whistled, hummed and sighed would not express threat.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “hiss”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.