hate

1 verb (transitive not in progressive)

1 to dislike someone very much and feel angry towards them: Jill really hates her stepfather. | hate sb's guts informal (=hat someone very much)

2 informal to dislike something very much: I hate housework. | Liz won't eat that, she hates bananas. | hate doing sth: Paul hates having his photo taken. | hate to do sth: I hate to see you making a fool of yourself. | hate sb doing sth: Jenny's mother hates her staying out late. | hate it when: I hate it when people ask me for money.

3 I'd hate (sb) to do sth spoken used to emphasize that you really do not want something to happen: I'd hate you to go.

4 I hate to think what/how spoken used when you feel sure that something would have a bad result: I hate to think what would have happened, if you hadn't called the police.

5 I hate to ask/interrupt/disturb etc spoken used to say that you are sorry that you have to ask etc: I hate to ask, but would you be able to give me a lift home tonight?

6 I hate to (have to) say this, but... spoken used when saying something that you do not want to say, for example because it is embarrassing

— hated adjective: the hated dictator —opposite love 1 2 noun (U) an angry unpleasant feeling that someone has when they hate someone and want to harm them: Their minds were poisoned with envy and hate. —opposite love 2 (1), —see also: pet hate pet 3 (2)