bear-hug

1 of 2

verb

bear-hugged; bear-hugging; bear-hugs

transitive verb

: to embrace in a bear hug

bear hug

2 of 2

noun

: a rough tight embrace

Examples of bear-hug in a Sentence

Noun He gave his brother a bear hug.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The policy of bear-hugging Netanyahu has not worked. CBS News, 3 Mar. 2024 Voters in the Associated Press national poll came down with a case of collective amnesia, stubbornly bear-hugging Gonzaga in the rankings while stiff-arming the Aztecs — even after San Diego State’s double-digit win at The Kennel in Spokane. Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2024 Last week, arriving for a one-day visit to Tel Aviv, President Biden descended from Air Force One and bear-hugged Netanyahu before a phalanx of cameras. Steve Coll, The New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2023 Lilia Astudillo will never again bear-hug her 14-year-old son. Claire Ballor, Dallas News, 2 Sep. 2023 If there’s a way to salvage things and bear-hug the name and brand, nothing of substance changes for the Aztecs in a travel sense. Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2023 When Rio de Janeiro was selected to host the 2016 Olympic Games, Lula broke down in tears and bear-hugged Pelé, the Brazilian soccer legend. Brian Winter, Foreign Affairs, 21 June 2022 The whole of it also represented a unique moment in baseball time, when a team nestled next to the Mexican border fully bear-hugged a piece of its beating heart. Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2023 Archer’s attempt to bear-hug regulators into submission also includes hiring them; Michael Romanowski, a longtime FAA official, joined the company in 2022 as head of government relations. Tim Fernholz, Quartz, 15 Mar. 2023
Noun
So do Spain, France, Germany and a fresh batch of expectations to bear hug or trip upon. Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2024 The first to greet him, with a bear hug, was Dante Ferretti, his longtime and multi-Oscar-winning production designer (Hugo, The Aviator). Manuela Santacatterina, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Feb. 2024 The bear hug of support that Biden has provided for Israel over Gaza, at times with no international backing, cannot be gratis. Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2024 Amidst the maize and blue confetti that had fallen onto the field at NRG Stadium and the throng of Michigan football players and families taking pictures and putting on T-shirts, Jim Harbaugh emerged and swallowed up his 84-year-old father, Jack, in a bear hug. Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, 9 Jan. 2024 The squeeze of a hand, a bear hug, a romantic walk and, of course, a kiss are gestures that often mean more than any bouquet could. Jeff Campagna, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Feb. 2024 The Biden bear hug isn’t just symbolic, officials say, and the decision to unwaveringly back Israel is coming from the top. Michael Birnbaum, Washington Post, 11 Nov. 2023 Perhaps most upsetting, though, was the pose taken by a professor — a well-meaning white man who pantomimed a big, warm bear hug. Selome Hailu, Variety, 16 Nov. 2023 Biden’s bear hug for Bibi was a remarkable show of support. Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bear-hug.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1907, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1837, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bear-hug was in 1837

Dictionary Entries Near bear-hug

Cite this Entry

“Bear-hug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bear-hug. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bear hug

noun
: a rough tight hug
bear-hug verb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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