hank|er /hæ ŋkə r / (hankers , hankering , hankered ) VERB If you hanker after something, you want it very much. □ [V + after/for ] I hankered after a floor-length brown suede coat. [Also V to-inf]
hank|er|ing /hæ ŋkər I ŋ/ (hankerings ) N‑COUNT [N to-inf] A hankering for something is a desire or longing for it. □ [+ for/after ] From time to time we all get a hankering for something a little different.
hanky /hæ ŋki/ (hankies ) also hankie N‑COUNT A hanky is the same as a handkerchief. [INFORMAL ]
hanky-panky /hæ ŋki pæ ŋki/ N‑UNCOUNT Hanky-panky is used to refer to sexual activity between two people, especially when this is regarded as improper or not serious. [HUMOROUS , INFORMAL ] □ Does this mean no hanky-panky after lights out?
han|som /hæ nsəm/ (hansoms ) N‑COUNT In former times, a hansom or a hansom cab was a horse-drawn carriage with two wheels and a fixed hood.
Ha|nuk|kah /hɑː nʊkə/ also Hanukah N‑UNCOUNT Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that celebrates the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 165 B.C. It begins in November or December and lasts for eight days.
hap|haz|ard /hæphæ zə r d/ ADJ If you describe something as haphazard , you are critical of it because it is not at all organized or is not arranged according to a plan. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The investigation does seem haphazard. ● hap|haz|ard|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ She looked at the books jammed haphazardly in the shelves.
hap|less /hæ pləs/ ADJ [ADJ n] A hapless person is unlucky. [FORMAL ] □ …his hapless victim.
hap|pen ◆◆◆ /hæ pən/ (happens , happening , happened )
1 VERB Something that happens occurs or is done without being planned. □ [V ] We cannot say for sure what will happen.
2 VERB If something happens , it occurs as a result of a situation or course of action. □ [V ] She wondered what would happen if her parents found her. □ [V ] He trotted to the truck and switched on the ignition. Nothing happened.
3 VERB When something, especially something unpleasant, happens to you, it takes place and affects you. □ [V + to ] If we had been spotted at that point, I don't know what would have happened to us.
4 VERB If you happen to do something, you do it by chance. If it happens that something is the case, it occurs by chance. □ [V to-inf] We happened to discover we had a friend in common. □ [V that] If it happens that I'm wanted somewhere, my mother will take the call and let me know.
5 PHRASE You use as it happens in order to introduce a statement, especially one that is rather surprising. □ She called Amy to see if she had any idea of her son's whereabouts. As it happened, Amy did.
hap|pen|ing /hæ pən I ŋ/ (happenings ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Happenings are things that happen, often in a way that is unexpected or hard to explain. □ The Budapest office plans to hire freelance reporters to cover the latest happenings.
hap|pen|stance /hæ pənstæ ns/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N , oft by N ] If you say that something happened by happenstance , you mean that it happened because of certain circumstances, although it was not planned by anyone. [WRITTEN ] □ I came to live at the farm by happenstance.
hap|pi|ly /hæ p I li/
1 ADV You can add happily to a statement to indicate that you are glad that something happened or is true. □ Happily, his neck injuries were not serious.
2 → see also happy
hap|py ◆◆◇ /hæ pi/ (happier , happiest )
1 ADJ Someone who is happy has feelings of pleasure, usually because something nice has happened or because they feel satisfied with their life. □ Marina was a confident, happy child. □ I'm just happy to be back running. ● hap|pi|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ He had chatted happily with guests in the sunshine. ● hap|pi|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ I think mostly she was looking for happiness.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A happy time, place, or relationship is full of happy feelings and pleasant experiences, or has an atmosphere in which people feel happy. □ It had always been a happy place. □ We have a very happy marriage.
3 ADJ [v-link ADJ , ADJ that, ADJ to-inf] If you are happy about a situation or arrangement, you are satisfied with it, for example because you think that something is being done in the right way. □ [+ about/with ] If you are not happy about a repair, go back and complain. □ He's happy that I deal with it myself.
4 ADJ [v-link ADJ , usu ADJ to-inf] If you say you are happy to do something, you mean that you are very willing to do it. □ I'll be happy to answer any questions if there are any. ● hap|pi|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ If I've caused any offence over something I have written, I will happily apologise.
5 ADJ [ADJ n] Happy is used in greetings and other conventional expressions to say that you hope someone will enjoy a special occasion. □ Happy Birthday! □ Happy Easter!
6 many happy returns → see return
7 ADJ [ADJ n] A happy coincidence is one that results in something pleasant or helpful happening. □ By happy coincidence, Robert met Richard and Julia and discovered they were experiencing similar problems.
ha ppy-go-lu cky ADJ Someone who is happy-go-lucky enjoys life and does not worry about the future.
ha p|py hour (happy hours ) N‑VAR In a pub, happy hour is a period when drinks are sold more cheaply than usual to encourage people to come to the pub.