hovered; hovering
ˈhə-v(ə-)riŋ 
ˈhä-
: 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
Kelly Heyboer1
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
Tennessee WilliamsThe country hovers on the brink of famine.
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.
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
Breck HendersonExamples 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
John Towfighi, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
Stylists crouch just out of frame, tugging seams, swapping earrings, brushing stray hairs from her face, while publicists hover nearby.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 28 Sep. 2025
And an air of innovation hovers across the Charles River in Cambridge, home to Harvard, MIT, and all the student haunts that accompany them.
—Kori Perten, AFAR Media, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hover
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Verb
Safe havens surge While stocks are hovering near record highs, a surge in gold and silver prices is signaling lingering concern about political and economic uncertainty.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
Stylists crouch just out of frame, tugging seams, swapping earrings, brushing stray hairs from her face, while publicists hover nearby.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
For comparison, average high temperatures in that time period for Milwaukee hover in the mid-60s.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 28 Sep. 2025
And an air of innovation hovers across the Charles River in Cambridge, home to Harvard, MIT, and all the student haunts that accompany them.
—Kori Perten, AFAR Media, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hover
Cite this Entry
“Hover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hover. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
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
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