Ire vs. Hire: What's the Difference?
By Aimie Carlson || Updated on May 29, 2024
"Ire" refers to intense anger or wrath, while "hire" means to employ someone for a job or to rent something for a specific period.
Key Differences
"Ire" signifies a strong feeling of anger or rage, often used to describe an emotional response to provocation. It conveys a sense of deep-seated annoyance or fury, and is typically used in more formal or literary contexts. For example, a person might feel ire towards a colleague who repeatedly undermines their work. "Hire," on the other hand, means to employ someone for a job or to obtain the use of something temporarily by paying for it. It is a commonly used term in both professional and everyday settings. For instance, a company might hire a new employee to fill a vacant position, or an individual might hire a car for a weekend trip.
In communication, "ire" is often used to convey a specific and intense emotional state, making it less frequent in casual conversations. It tends to appear in written forms, such as literature, where a more expressive vocabulary is desirable. "Hire" is widely used in various contexts, from employment to rentals, and is a staple in everyday vocabulary. Its practical nature makes it applicable in numerous scenarios, from business transactions to personal arrangements.
"Ire" has a connotation of strong negative emotions and is associated with conflict or displeasure. It can add a dramatic or emphatic tone to descriptions of anger. Conversely, "hire" has a neutral or positive connotation, associated with opportunities and agreements. It is essential for describing employment and service arrangements.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Intense anger or wrath
To employ or rent for a period
Usage Context
Emotional, often formal
Professional, everyday
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Connotation
Negative, intense
Neutral, practical
Frequency
Less common, literary
Common, widespread
Association
Conflict, displeasure
Employment, rentals
Ire and Hire Definitions
Ire
Intense anger.
His words sparked the ire of the crowd.
Hire
To employ someone for a job.
The company decided to hire a new manager.
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Ire
Strong displeasure.
Her constant lateness aroused his ire.
Hire
To rent something temporarily.
We plan to hire a car for our vacation.
Ire
Wrath or fury.
The decision provoked widespread ire.
Hire
Engage services for a fee.
They hired a caterer for the wedding.
Ire
Bitter indignation.
The injustice filled him with ire.
Hire
Obtain temporary use of something.
She hired a bike to explore the city.
Ire
Anger; wrath.
Hire
To engage the services of (a person) for a fee; employ
Hired a new clerk.
Ire
(obsolete) Iron.
Hire
To engage the temporary use of for a fee; rent
Hire a car for the day.
Ire
Great anger; wrath; keen resentment.
To raise the ire of someone
Hire
To grant the services of or the temporary use of for a fee
Hired himself out as a cook.
Hired out the cottage for the summer.
Ire
To anger, to irritate.
Hire
To obtain work
She hired on as a deck hand. He hired out as a photographer.
Ire
Anger; wrath.
Hire
The act of hiring.
Ire
A strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
Hire
The condition or fact of being hired.
Ire
Belligerence aroused by a real or supposed wrong (personified as one of the deadly sins)
Hire
Payment for services; wages.
Ire
A feeling of rage.
She felt ire rising within her.
Hire
Payment for the use of something.
Hire
(Informal) One who is hired
Two new hires in the sales department.
Hire
Payment for the temporary use of something.
The sign offered pedalos on hire.
Hire
(obsolete) Reward, payment.
Hire
The state of being hired, or having a job; employment.
When my grandfather retired, he had over twenty mechanics in his hire.
Hire
A person who has been hired, especially in a cohort.
We pair up each of our new hires with one of our original hires.
Hire
(transitive) To obtain the services of in return for fixed payment.
We hired a car for two weeks because ours had broken down.
Hire
(transitive) To employ; to obtain the services of (a person) in exchange for remuneration; to give someone a job.
The company had problems when it tried to hire more skilled workers.
Hire
(transitive) To exchange the services of for remuneration.
They hired themselves out as day laborers.
They hired out their basement for Inauguration week.
Hire
(transitive) To accomplish by paying for services.
After waiting two years for her husband to finish the tiling, she decided to hire it done.
Hire
(intransitive) To accept employment.
They hired out as day laborers.
Hire
(transitive) (neologism) (in the Jobs-to-be-Done Theory) To buy something in order for it to perform a function, to do a job
They hired a milkshake.
Hire
The price, reward, or compensation paid, or contracted to be paid, for the temporary use of a thing or a place, for personal service, or for labor; wages; rent; pay.
The laborer is worthy of his hire.
Hire
A bailment by which the use of a thing, or the services and labor of a person, are contracted for at a certain price or reward.
Hire
To procure (any chattel or estate) from another person, for temporary use, for a compensation or equivalent; to purchase the use or enjoyment of for a limited time; as, to hire a farm for a year; to hire money.
Hire
To engage or purchase the service, labor, or interest of (any one) for a specific purpose, by payment of wages; as, to hire a servant, an agent, or an advocate.
Hire
To grant the temporary use of, for compensation; to engage to give the service of, for a price; to let; to lease; - now usually with out, and often reflexively; as, he has hired out his horse, or his time.
They . . . have hired out themselves for bread.
Hire
Engage or hire for work;
They hired two new secretaries in the department
How many people has she employed?
Hire
Hold under a lease or rental agreement; of goods and services
Hire
Engage for service under a term of contract;
We took an apartment on a quiet street
Let's rent a car
Shall we take a guide in Rome?
Hire
To take on staff.
We need to hire additional workers for the project.
FAQs
Is "hire" used only for employment?
No, it also refers to renting items.
What does "hire" mean?
To employ someone or rent something temporarily.
What does "ire" mean?
Intense anger or wrath.
Can "ire" be used in everyday conversation?
It's less frequent in casual conversations, more formal or literary.
Is "ire" commonly used?
No, it is less common and often found in formal or literary contexts.
Does "ire" have a positive or negative connotation?
Negative, associated with anger and displeasure.
What is an example of "hire" in a sentence?
E.g., "We hired a consultant to improve our processes."
Does "ire" appear in modern speech?
Less commonly, it’s more frequent in written contexts.
Is "ire" derived from an old English word?
Yes, it has roots in Middle English and Old French.
Can "hire" refer to short-term rentals?
Yes, it can refer to temporary rentals.
What is an example of "ire" in a sentence?
E.g., "The new policy aroused the ire of many employees."
Does "ire" describe physical actions?
No, it describes an emotional state.
Is "hire" specific to any industry?
No, it is used across various industries.
Is "hire" a formal term?
It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
Can "hire" be used in business settings?
Yes, it is commonly used in professional contexts.
Does "hire" have multiple meanings?
Yes, it can mean both to employ and to rent.
Is "hire" relevant in modern language?
Yes, it is widely used today.
Does "ire" indicate mild annoyance?
No, it indicates intense anger.
Can "ire" be used to describe minor irritation?
No, it refers to strong anger.
Can "ire" be synonymous with frustration?
It is stronger than frustration, indicating intense anger.
About Author
Written by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
