- to or towards this place (esp in the phrase come hither)
- hither and thither ⇒ this way and that, as in a state of confusion
- archaic or dialect (of a side or part, esp of a hill or valley) nearer; closer
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
hith•er /ˈhɪðɚ/USA pronunciation
adv.
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to or toward this place:to come hither.
adj.
- being on this or the closer side:the hither side of the meadow.
- Idioms hither and thither, here and there;
in all directions. - Idioms hither and yon, in many places.
hith•er
(hiᵺ′ər),USA pronunciation adv.
adj.
- to or toward this place:to come hither.
- Idioms hither and thither, in various quarters;
here and there:They scurried hither and thither to escape the rain. - Idioms hither and yon, from here to over there, esp. to a farther place;
in or to a great many places:He looked hither and yon for the coin. She went hither and yon in search of an answer.
adj.
- being on this or the closer side;
nearer:the hither side of the meadow.
- bef. 900; Middle English, Old English hider; cognate with Old Norse hethra, Latin citer on this side
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
hither /ˈhɪðə/ adv
'hither and thither' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):