- used to attract somebody’s attention or to express interest, surprise or anger
- Hey, can I just ask you something?
- Hey, leave my things alone!
- (especially North American English, informal) used to say hello synonym hi
- Hey, Jake! How are you doing?
- used to show that you do not really care about something or that you think it is not important
- That's the third time I've been late this week—but hey!—who's counting?
- (South African English) used at the end of a statement, to show that you have finished speaking, or to form a question or invite somebody to reply
- Thanks for your help, hey.
- My new bike's nice, hey?
Word Originnatural exclamation: first recorded in Middle English.
Idioms
See hey in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionarywhat the hey!
- (North American English, informal) used to say that something does not matter or that you do not care about it
- This is probably a bad idea, but what the hey!
Check pronunciation:
hey