Quick answer
Hither means “to here” or “toward this place.” The opposite direction is thither, meaning “to there.”
Word page
Hither Meaning
Hither means to or toward this place. It is the old-fashioned partner of “here,” and it survives mostly in literature, set phrases, and intentionally archaic style.
At a glance
Archaic and Forgotten WordsPompous and Grandiloquent WordsFunny-Sounding Words
How to say it
Pronunciation tip: keep the main stress on the capitalized syllable in HITH-er.
Meaning in plain English
In plain English, hither describes motion toward the speaker or toward the place being discussed. “Come hither” means “come here.”
Tone, context, and nuance
Hither is archaic and literary. It can sound charming, dramatic, or comic, but it is not natural in ordinary modern directions.
Example sentences
- Simple: Come hither, and look at this.
- Everyday: Today, most people would say “come here.”
- Writing: The messenger came hither at dawn with urgent news.
- Nuance: Hither describes movement toward here, not simply being here.
- Awkward: “I am hither.” Better: “I am here.”
Common mistakes
| Common mistake | Better guidance |
|---|---|
| Using it to mean here | Hither means toward here, not simply here. |
| Confusing it with thither | Hither means toward this place; thither means toward that place. |
| Using it in normal directions | Come here is clearer for modern readers. |
| Missing the archaic tone | Hither sounds old-fashioned even when used correctly. |
Synonyms and similar words
| Similar word | Difference or nuance |
|---|---|
| to here | Plain direct equivalent. |
| toward this place | Clear explanatory substitute. |
| hereward | Rare and archaic, also direction toward here. |
| thither | Opposite direction: to there. |
| whence | Means from where, a source rather than a destination. |
Opposite words
thither, away, to there, from here, elsewhere
Word family
Hither belongs to an old direction-word set: hither, thither, whither, hence, thence, and whence.
Word origin
Hither comes from Old English directional forms related to here. It once filled a role now usually handled by “to here.”
Writing tip
Use hither for old-fashioned dialogue, literary flavor, or playful drama. Use “here” or “come here” for normal instructions.
Common questions
- What does hither mean in simple words? Hither means to or toward this place.
- How do you pronounce hither? Hither is pronounced HITH-er.
- Is hither still used today? Rarely in everyday speech, but it appears in literature and set phrases like “come hither.”
- What is the opposite of hither? Thither is the old-fashioned opposite, meaning to or toward that place.
- What does come hither mean? Come hither means come here.
- Is hither the same as here? No. Here is a place; hither means toward this place.
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Editorial note
Edited by Absurd Words. Last updated: May 14, 2026. See the editorial policy for how definitions, examples, labels, and update checks are handled on the site.