hooked

adjective \ ˈhu̇kt , sense 1 is also ˈhu̇-kəd \

|Updated on: 10 Jul 2018

Examples: hooked in a Sentence

Definition of hooked

1 : having the form of a hook

2 : provided with a hook

3 : made by hooking

a hooked rug

4 a : addicted to narcotics

b : fascinated by or devoted to something

See hooked defined for English-language learners

See hooked defined for kids

Examples of hooked in a Sentence

Her friends talked her into playing golf, and now she's hooked.

Recent Examples of hooked from the Web

Private-equity investors, known for their jet-setting ways of landing deals, have become hooked on the air transport business.

— robert wall, WSJ, "Private Equity Makes Leasing Planes a Hot Commodity," 4 July 2018
Certain teens more likely to get hooked on opioids Opioids no better than common painkillers for treating chronic pain, study finds What plastic buckets?

— julie appleby, chicagotribune.com, "Doling out pain pills post-surgery: An ingrown toenail not the same as a bypass," 27 June 2018
The turtles look like miniature dinosaurs, with beady eyes on either side of their heads, ghastly hooked beaks and shells dotted with prehistoric-looking spikes.

— jared gilmour, miamiherald, "Missing a finger? This man just found one — inside a snapping turtle, Louisiana cops say," 13 June 2018
Peri Gilpin has cigarette machines to thank for getting her hooked.

— james hebert, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Old Globe's 'Native Gardens' puts a comic twist on a fight over fences," 24 May 2018
The new owners are Molly McKnight, who previously worked as a part-time instructor at Pure Barre, and her neighbor, Amanda French-Greenwood, who became hooked on the exercise method when McKnight encouraged her to try a class.

— julia preszler, BostonGlobe.com, "Openings, closings, and more in the south suburbs," 25 May 2018
Adults have white plumage, black wings, and webbed feet, along with tubular nostrils on either side of their hooked, pink bills.

— National Geographic, "The Biggest Bird That Ever Lived and 5 More Bird Superstars," 15 May 2018
That gift was fine: thoughtful (hooked to his IPA obsession), high-quality (Yeti), and actually useful (because warm beer is the actual worst).

— annie daly, SELF, "I Gave My Mom a Mother-Daughter Trip and It Was the Best Gift Ever," 9 May 2018
Despite its dinosaurlike teeth, Ichthyornis had a hooked beak, likely covered by a hard layer of keratin, on the tip of its snout.

— gretchen vogel, Science | AAAS, "Fossils reveal how ancient birds got their beaks," 2 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hooked.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of hooked

before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

HOOKED Defined for English Language Learners

hooked

adjective

Definition of hooked for English Language Learners

: shaped like a hook
: addicted to a drug
: very interested in and enthusiastic about something

HOOKED Defined for Kids

hooked

adjective \ ˈhu̇kt \

Definition of hooked for Students

1 : shaped like or provided with a hook

a hooked beak

2 : fascinated by or fond of something

He's hooked on computer games.

Learn More about hooked

Spanish Central: Translation of hooked Nglish: Translation of hooked for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of hooked for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up hooked? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

hooked

Definition of hooked

Examples of hooked in a Sentence

Recent Examples of hooked from the Web

First Known Use of hooked

HOOKED Defined for English Language Learners

hooked

Definition of hooked for English Language Learners

HOOKED Defined for Kids

hooked

Definition of hooked for Students

Learn More about hooked

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

festinate

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

The Good, The Bad, & The Semantically Imprecise - 7/20

An Explanation of Why We (Sometimes) Truncate Definitions

'Kayfabe': It's Illusive and Elusive

Words We're Watching: 'Laze'

Ask the Editors

Ghost Word

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

Test Your Emoji Exceptionalism

Obscure Shapes

Spell It

Citation

The Good, The Bad, & The Semantically Imprecise - 7/20

Trending: Giuliani: Secret Recordings 'Powerful Exculpatory Evidence'

5 Words for Clumsy People

Test Your Emoji Exceptionalism

Ghost Word

hooked

Definition of hooked

Examples of hooked in a Sentence

Recent Examples of hooked from the Web

First Known Use of hooked

Phrases Related to HOOKED

Related Phrases

HOOKED Defined for English Language Learners

hooked

Definition of hooked for English Language Learners

HOOKED Defined for Kids

hooked

Definition of hooked for Students

Learn More about hooked

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

The Good, The Bad, & The Semantically Imprecise - 7/20

Trending: Giuliani: Secret Recordings 'Powerful Exculpatory Evidence'

5 Words for Clumsy People

Test Your Emoji Exceptionalism

Ghost Word