hook 1 of 2

noun

ˈhu̇k How to pronounce hook (audio)
Definition of hooknext
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument delivered a hard right hook that struck his opponent in the eye

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hook

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to bend
to cause to turn away from a straight line the pitcher hooked the ball, and the batter missed

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2
as in to connect
to put or bring together so as to form a new and longer whole hooked up three short chains together to make a longer necklace

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3
as in to steal
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep the monkey hooked four bananas from the basket and scampered away to enjoy them

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4
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly I hooked the biggest fish of the day, and then released it

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5
as in to curve
to turn away from a straight line or course hang the bird feeder on a branch that hooks upward

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hook
Noun
Eyes ruptured by knives, fireworks, bungee cords, windshields, beer bottles, sticks, rocks, fish hooks, and more. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 Nov. 2026 The glasses securely snap into place on a hook that aligns the charging pins in the case with the tiny contacts on the underside of the nose bridge. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 3 Nov. 2026
Verb
They’re built for vertical screens and designed to hook viewers in the first few seconds. — Phoena Pang, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026 In 1836, Charles Dickens hooked the good people of England on a story about a traveling men’s group. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hook
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hook
  1. blow
  2. bend
  3. connect
  4. steal
  5. grab
  6. curve
  7. slap
  8. arch
Noun
  • On top of that, Jensen Huang's resignation Thursday as Nvidia CEO in the fallout of an affair scandal dealt another blow to investor confidence, making Anthropic's IPO even more of a litmus test of investor appetite for the sector.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 13 Nov. 2026
  • With a population exceeding 110 million people, over 40 million more than France, Congo is the most populous nation where French is the official language and its withdrawal would mark a significant blow to the Francophonie organization.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Nov. 2026
Definition of blow
Verb
  • This arrangement allows the robot’s body to bend, stretch, collapse, and change shape while maintaining its structural integrity.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2026
  • That dream was recently proved false, however, when a group of theoretical physicists found that no light-bending material can ever be fully transparent, owing to a quantum process that turns waves of light into waves of sound.
    — Matthew von Hippel, Scientific American, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of bend
Verb
  • The virtual model is then connected to its physical counterpart through sensors and data systems.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2026
  • In the future, the creators hope to expand the range of accessories that could potentially be connected to the TobenONE system through additional magnetic modules.
    — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of connect
Verb
  • Police also received one unconfirmed report that a Honda SUV was stolen using an OBD-2 port scanner, which involves plugging a device in under the dashboard and duplicating the key fob.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 10 Nov. 2026
  • In all sorts of ways, from the character of Baum’s music to the show-stealing sassy sidekicks, Wanted is channeling the Mouse House during its second golden age of animation, the era of Simba, Aladdin, and the muses of Hercules.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of steal
Verb
  • In a separate incident Sunday, Basabe flagged down police to report that a parking garage employee grabbed and threw his phone to the ground, the report shows.
    — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Testing spoons stored in a manner where lip contact surface contamination could happen when employee grabs the spoon from container.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of grab
Verb
  • When light passes this curvature, its usually straight path is curved.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 12 Nov. 2026
  • The dining area sports a banquette that curves into the bay window.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 9 Nov. 2026
Definition of curve
Noun
  • Communicating entirely through percussive movements and sounds and enough slaps to make the Three Stooges envious, the wild-haired creatures mainly seem to be auditioning for their own big-screen spin-off to compete with the Minions.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 3 Nov. 2026
  • During initial ride tests, mechanical chain slap and drivetrain vibrations echoed loudly through the structure, creating a persistent clattering that detracts from any quiet ride through nature.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of slap
Verb
  • An elegant living room is anchored by a minimalist fireplace and a formal dining room has arched windows on two walls that open to the gardens.
    — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 9 Nov. 2026
  • The painting is commanded by an umbrella pine, which arches high into the butter-yellow heavens, on the right, leaning over the heart of the composition.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of arch

Phrases Containing hook

Browse Nearby Words

hoo-has
hook
hooked
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Cite this Entry

“Hook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hook. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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