hack

present singular third person hacks · participle present hacking · participle past hacked · past hacked

1. transitiveTo chop or cut down in a rough manner.First known use circa 12th c.

   They hacked the brush down and made their way through the jungle.

   2 more examples

   Among other things he found a sharp hunting knife, on the keen blade of which he immediately proceeded to cut his finger. Undaunted he continued his experiments, finding that he could hack and hew splinters of wood from the table and chairs with this new toy.

   1912 October, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “Tarzan of the Apes”, in The All-Story, New York, N.Y.: Frank A. Munsey Co., →OCLC; republished as chapter 6, in Tarzan of the Apes, New York, N.Y.: A[lbert] L[evi] Burt Company, June 1914, →OCLC

   The ruthless practices of the Ontario Film Censor Board are by now the laughing stock of most of the world. Scenes that contain more flesh or affection than they find savoury are simply hacked out of the film before it is released.

   1981 February 14, Alexander Wilson, “The New Right Attacks Childhood Sexuality: A Canadian Perspective”, in Gay Community News, volume 8, number 29, page 6

2. To withstand or put up with a difficult situation.First known use 20th c.

   Can you hack it out here with no electricity or running water?

   1 more example

   New Yorkers have been fleeing for months. But the fear some residents have of the violent reactions to the protests here is adding a new challenge to those asking themselves whether they can hack the city. Many are deciding not to return.

   2020 June 5, Alyson Krueger, “The Agonizing Question: Is New York City Worth It Anymore?”, in New York Times

3. computingTo make a quick code change to patch a computer program, often one that, while being effective, is inelegant or makes the program harder to maintain.

   I hacked in a fix for this bug, but we'll still have to do a real fix later.

   Synonyms: frob, tweak, kludge, bodge

4. computingTo accomplish a difficult programming task.

   He can hack like no one else and make the program work as expected.

5. slangtransitivecomputingTo work with something on an intimately technical level.

   I'm currently hacking distributed garbage collection.

6. broadlycolloquialtransitiveTo apply a trick, shortcut, skill, or novel method to something to increase productivity, efficiency or ease.

   I read up on dating tips so I can hack my sex life.

7. slangtransitivecomputingTo hack into; to gain unauthorized access to (a computer system, e.g., a website, or network) by manipulating code.

   FACT: The People’s Republic of China (China) and their proxies bought, stole, or hacked as many as 220 million Americans’ voter registration data.

   2026 July 30, “The White House Government Transparency Task Force Fact Sheet”, in The White House, archived from the original on 31 Jul 2026

   Synonyms: crack

8. broadlyslangtransitivecomputingTo gain unauthorized access to a computer or online account belonging to (a person or organisation).

   When I logged in to the social network, I discovered I'd been hacked.

   1 more example

   The police said that officers belonging to the Cyber Security and Technology Crime unit searched an office in the Wong Chuk Hang neighborhood on Friday afternoon on the suspicion that computers at the institute had been hacked, leading to a leak of personal information.

   2020 July 10, Tiffany May, Austin Ramzy, “Hong Kong Police Raid Pollster on Eve of Pro-Democracy Camp Primary”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 10 Jul 2020

9. intransitivevideo gamesTo cheat by using unauthorized modifications.

   That player must be hacking, they got so many kills last game.

10. hobbiesTo strike an opponent with one's hockey stick, typically on the leg but occasionally and more seriously on the back, arm, head, etc.

    Jensen gets a 5 minute major penalty for hacking Orsov in the back.

    1 more example

    He's going to the penalty box after hacking the defender in front of the goal.

11. hobbiesTo make a flailing attempt to hit the puck with a hockey stick.

    There's a scramble in front of the net as the forwards are hacking at the bouncing puck.

12. ball gamesTo swing at a pitched ball.

    He went to the batter's box hacking.

13. ball gamesTo kick (a player) on the shins.

    Barcelona had been harried and hurried and stretched thin by the midway point in the second half. Tackles flew in. Toes were crushed, shins barked, ankles hacked.

    8 May 2019, Barney Ronay, “Liverpool’s waves of red fury and recklessness end in joyous bedlam”, in The Guardian

14. To strike in a frantic movement.

    Centre-back Branislav Ivanovic then took a wild slash at the ball but his captain John Terry saved Chelsea's skin by hacking the ball clear for a corner with Kevin Davies set to strike from just six yards out.

    2010 December 29, Chris Whyatt, “Chelsea 1 - 0 Bolton”, in BBC

15. transitiveTo strike lightly as part of tapotement massage.

    […] laterally from and then towards the spine, and continued downwards from the shoulders until the whole back has been hacked.

    1915, Louisa L. Despard, Handbook of Massage for Beginners, page 14

plural hacks

1. countableuncountableA tool for chopping.First known use 14th c.
2. countableuncountableA hacking blow.First known use 19th c.
3. countableuncountableA gouge or notch made by such a blow.

   Look you what hacks are on his helmet !

   c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]

4. countablefigurativelyuncountableA try, an attempt.First known use 19th c.

   Synonyms: crack

5. countableuncountableball gamesThe foothold traditionally cut into the ice from which the person who throws the rock pushes off for delivery.
6. countableobsoleteuncountableA mattock or a miner's pickaxe.
7. countableinformaluncountableAn improvised device or solution to a problem.

   Luckily for us J company picked us up in their hack — two snowmobiles with a big inflatable raft strapped between them.

8. countableslanguncountablecomputingAn expedient, temporary solution, such as a small patch or change to code, meant to be replaced with a more elegant solution at a later date; a workaround.

   Valleysoft released a hack yesterday to fix the "crashes when more than 50 recipients" bug for people who need it right away. The company says its next release will also solve this as well as add new features.

   Synonyms: band-aid, contrivance, improvision, improvisation, kludge, makeshift, quick fix, patch

9. countabledatedslanguncountablecomputingA computer programmer who makes quick but inelegant changes to computer code to solve problems or add features.

   Tsang is great but Zhou is such a hack — I wouldn't want him on my project.

10. countabledatedslanguncountablecomputingA computer programmer, particularly a veteran or someone not immediately expected to be capable of programming.

    Terry wrote that module? I didn't know she was a hack too!

11. countableslanguncountablecomputingAn interesting technical achievement, particularly in computer programming.

    Flugensoft came out with a neat hack last week that allows your watch to warm up your car if it's below freezing outside.

12. colloquialcountableuncountableA trick, shortcut, skill, or novel method to increase productivity, efficiency, or ease.

    Putting your phone in a sandwich bag when you go to the beach is such a great hack.

    2 more examples

    Woebot was full of tasks and tricks — little mental health hacks — which at first made me roll my eyes. One day Woebot asked me to press an ice cube to my forehead, to feel the sensation as a way of better connecting with my body.

    2022 September 27, Barclay Bram, “My Therapist, the Robot”, in The New York Times

    One of my go-to side dish hacks is sprinkling crunchy, cracked whole spices onto a pan of vegetables before roasting.

    2022, Melissa Clark, Dinner in One, →ISBN, page 54

    Synonyms: lifehack

13. countableslanguncountablecomputingThe illegal accessing of a computer network.

    Synonyms: exploit

14. countableslanguncountablecomputingA video game or any computer software that has been altered from its original state.

    […] found out a discarded sex mini-game in the code, and made it available again in the modified PC version of the game that they nicknamed “Hot Coffee.” This hack of the game created a controversy, since the inclusion of sexual content would change its age rating, […]

    2014, Clara Fernández-Vara, Introduction to Game Analysis, page 165

15. countableuncountableMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyA practical joke that showcases cleverness and creativity.
16. countableslanguncountablegovernmentTime check, as for example upon synchronization of wristwatches.
17. countableuncountablehobbiesThe act of striking an opponent with one's hockey stick, typically on the leg but occasionally and more seriously on the back, arm, head, etc.

    Zersky is still down after that nasty hack by Lenner.

18. countableuncountableball gamesA swing of the bat at a pitched ball by the batter, particularly a choppy, ungraceful one that misses the ball such as at a fastball.

    And Melnick goes down with one last hack at an O'Malley fastball.

19. countableuncountableA kick on the shins in football of any type.

    Wales are awarded a free kick after a minor hack by Järvinen on Llewellyn.

    2 more examples

    “Ain't there just fine scrummages then! and the three trees you see there which come out into the play, that's a tremendous place when the ball hangs there, for you get thrown against the trees, and that's worse than any hack.”

    1857, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown's School Days

    Liverpool left-back Robertson had been excellent but was sent off for a reckless hack on Emerson Royal, a decision given after Paul Tierney reviewed the decision on the pitch-side monitor.

    2021 December 19, Alex Bysouth, “Tottenham Hotpsur 2 - 2 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport

20. slanguncountablegovernmentConfinement of an officer to their stateroom as a punishment.

    “Lieutenant Cauthen, you've got ten seconds to explain yourself before I put you in hack!”

    2013, David Cauthen, When Destiny Comes to a Fork in the Road, page 426

    1 more example

    You've been busted, you lost your qualifications as section leader three times, put in hack twice by me, with a history of high speed passes over five air control towers, and one admiral's daughter!

    1986, Jim Cash, Jack Epps Jr., Top Gun (motion picture), spoken by Stinger (James Tolkan)

21. countableslanguncountablegovernmentAn airplane of poor quality or in poor condition.

    […] so that he had to make the 300-mile journey in a “hack” plane which had spluttering engines, which did not conduce to an easy mind nor to a comfortable journey; […]

    1967, Christian Advocate, volume 47, page 292

    1 more example

    Henebry's planes returned to Japan to reload, and early in the morning brought almost 3,000 more troopers to Korea […] Before sunrise next day, all troops in the maneuver had been picked up again and airlifted in “Henebry Hacks” back to Japan.

    1952, Air Reservist, page 6

plural hacks

1. falconryA board upon which the falcon's food is placed; used by extension for the state of partial freedom in which they are kept before being trained.
2. A food-rack for cattle.
3. A rack used to dry something, such as bricks, fish, or cheese.
4. A grating in a mill race.

present singular third person hacks · participle present hacking · participle past hacked · past hacked

1. To lay (bricks) on a rack to dry.
2. falconryTo keep (young hawks) in a state of partial freedom, before they are trained.

plural hacks

1. A horse for hire, especially one which is old and tired.First known use 16th c.

   A cold wind, a piercing rain, and a bad road, with a worse hack (for his own horses had been knocked up), rendered more acute the misery which he, as a parted lover, was bound to feel.

   1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Arrived at Home”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 84

2. A person, often a journalist, hired to do routine work.First known use 17th c.

   I got by on hack work for years before I finally published my novel.

   1 more example

   [W]e know how the life of any hack, legal or literary, in a curacy, or in a marching regiment, or at a merchant’s desk, is dull of routine, and tedious of description.

   1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 37, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC

3. derogatorySomeone who is available for hire; hireling, mercenary.
4. slangThe driver of a taxicab (hackney cab).
5. CanadaUScolloquialA vehicle let for hire; originally, a hackney cab, now typically a taxicab.First known use 17th c.

   On horse, on foot, in hacks and gilded chariots.

   1728, [Alexander Pope], “(please specify the page)”, in The Dunciad. An Heroic Poem. […], Dublin; London: […] A. Dodd, →OCLC

   1 more example

   The interurban wasn't running because of the holiday, and the hacks, if there were any, would have been clustered round the Post Tavern at the other end of town.

   1993, TC Boyle, The Road to Wellville, Penguin, published 1994, page 227

6. A hearse.

   1920s, Jimmie Rodgers, Frankie and Johnny Bring out the rubber-tired buggie/Bring out the rubber-tired hack/I'm takin' my Johnny to the graveyard/But I ain't gonna bring him back

7. derogatoryauthorshipAn untalented writer.

   Dason is nothing but a two-bit hack.

   1 more example

   He's nothing but the typical hack writer.

8. derogatoryOne who is professionally successful despite producing mediocre work. (Usually applied to persons in a creative field.)
9. derogatoryA talented writer-for-hire, paid to put others' thoughts into felicitous language.
10. slightly derogatorygovernmentA political agitator.
11. UKderogatorystudent politicsA person who frequently canvasses for votes, either directly or by appearing to continuously act with the ulterior motive of furthering their political career.
12. obsoleteA writer who hires himself out for any sort of literary work; an overworked man; a drudge.

    Here lies poor Ned Purdon, from misery freed, / Who long was a bookseller's hack.

    1767, Oliver Goldsmith, Epitaph on Edward Purdon

13. obsoleteA procuress.

present singular third person hacks · participle present hacking · participle past hacked · past hacked

1. datedTo make common or cliched; to vulgarise.
2. equestrianismTo ride a horse at a regular pace; to ride on a road (as opposed to riding cross-country etc.).
3. obsoleteTo live the life of a drudge or hack.

   Poor madam , now condemn'd to hack The rest of life with anxious Jack

   1765, Oliver Goldsmith, The Double Transformation

4. To use as a hack; to let out for hire.
5. To use frequently and indiscriminately, so as to render trite and commonplace.

   The word "remarkable" has been so hacked of late.

   1865, John Henry Newman, An Internal Argument for Christianity

6. To drive a hackney cab.

   When I was hacking in Brooklyn, I used to run him over to the Court Street restaurants, where he'd sit in Nick and Tony's Pizzeria […]

   2004, Joseph Trigoboff, The Shooting Gallery, page 238

present singular third person hacks · participle present hacking · participle past hacked · past hacked

1. intransitiveTo cough noisily.First known use 19th c.

   This cold is awful. I can't stop hacking.

plural hacks

1. countableuncountableA dry cough.
2. countableuncountableA hacking; a catch in speaking; a short, broken cough.

   he speaks to this very question: which he does with so many hacks and hesitations

   1660, H[enry] More, An Explanation of the Grand Mystery of Godliness; […], London: […] J[ames] Flesher, for W[illiam] Morden […], →OCLC

1. An onomatopoeia for coughing.

   Haaaack... Oooooooog... A-CHOO! That was terrible.. I gotta get in shape...

   2004, Intelligent Systems, translated by Nintendo of America, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Nintendo, GameCube, level/area: Rogueport

plural hacks

1. A small ball usually made of woven cotton or suede and filled with rice, sand or some other filler, for use in hackeysack.

present singular third person hacks · participle present hacking · participle past hacked · past hacked

1. To play hackeysack.

plural Hacks

1. A surname.