hover

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verb

hov·​er ˈhə-vər  ˈhä- 

hovered; hovering ˈhə-v(ə-)riŋ 

ˈhä-

transitive verb

: to position (a computer cursor) over something (such as an image or icon) without selecting it

Many in the class hovered their cursors over words and icons for long periods before committing to clicking their mouse.

—Kelly Heyboer

intransitive verb

1

a

: to hang fluttering in the air or on the wing

A hawk hovered overhead.

b

: to remain suspended over a place or object

a hummingbird hovering over the flowers

Helicopters hovered above us.

2

a

: to move to and fro near a place : fluctuate around a given point

Unemployment hovered around 10 percent.

b

: to be in a state of uncertainty, irresolution, or suspense

… hovering uncomfortably behind a cigar …

—Tennessee Williams

The country hovers on the brink of famine.

hoverer

ˈhə-vər-ər 

ˈhä-

noun

hover

2 of 2

noun

plural hovers

: the act or state of hovering in the air

Ospreys were most successful hunting from a hover and spent more of their hunting time doing it that way.

—John P. Wiley, Jr.

After a careful check outside to ensure that his flight path was clear, one of the pilots lifted his helicopter to a hover, then maneuvered to the middle of the valley.

—Breck Henderson

Synonyms of hover

Verb

• float
• sail
• swim
• glide
• drift

Examples of hover in a Sentence

Verb

Watch as the hummingbird hovers over the flowers.

Bees hovered around the hive.

Waiters hovered near our table.

nervous mothers hovering over their children

Unemployment rates were hovering around 10 percent.

Temperatures will continue to hover around freezing.

The patient was hovering between life and death.

The country hovers on the brink of famine.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

That number is expected to decline further in the coming weeks, with the mission typically hovering between 2,500 and 3,000 troops. — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026

Their closest rival, the Philadelphia Phillies, have been hovering around 8 games behind the Braves. — Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Noun

The nearly one-kilometer-long bridge, which opened earlier this year, hovers above the Tamsui River, potentially giving adversaries direct entry to the heart of Taipei. — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026

The precious metal enters its fourth consecutive winning session and hovers near a seven-week high as some of the headwinds that have held it back since the war began ease off slightly. — Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English hoveren, frequentative of hoven to hover

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1513, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hover

• cover
• plover
• discover
• hardcover
• recover
• thereover
• uncover
• rediscover
• undercover

Kids Definition

hover

verb

hov·​er ˈhəv-ər  ˈhäv- 

hovered; hovering -(ə-)riŋ 

1

a

: to hang fluttering in the air or on the wing

a bird hovered overhead

b

: to remain floating over a place or object

2

a

: to move to and fro near a place

waiters hovered about

b

: to be in an undecided or uncertain state

hovering between life and death

hover noun

hoverer

-ər-ər 

noun