Definition of hover
hovered
;hovering
play \ˈhə-v(ə-)riŋ, ˈhä-\transitive verb
: to position (a computer cursor) over something (such as an image or icon) without selecting it You start typing in a search term, then hover your cursor over the item you want to delete and press the delete key. — Jay Lee
intransitive verb
1a : 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.
2a : 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.
hover
nounRead the Latest from M-W
Examples of hover in a Sentence
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 of hover from the Web
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The owner of the coffee maker, Lisa Moore, hovered nearby.
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To date, Nyx boasts a membership hovering around 3,000 people and, this year, employed a caravan of 42 floats during its Feb. 22 parade, the krewe's website notes.
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But that won’t dim the spotlight that will hover over the Seahawks throughout the 2017 season.
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Helicopters hovered overhead, a reminder of the high security around the event.
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Jordan hovers over current basketball, and certainly over James, like Babe Ruth used to hang over baseball, like Jack Nicklaus still does golf, as Pele does soccer.
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Kennedy Meeks hovered just off the stage of West Charlotte High’s auditorium, welcoming admirers into his arms.
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Straddle their face with your legs and use your thigh muscles to hover your genitals right over their mouth.
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Which explains why so many startups view all-encompassing expansion as a legitimate strategy; Snapchat’s reportedly valued at $19 billion, while Spotify hovered around $8 billion as recently as last month.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hover'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of hover
Middle English hoveren, frequentative of hoven to hover
First Known Use: 15th century
HOVER Defined for English Language Learners
hover
playDefinition of hover for English Language Learners
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: to float in the air without moving in any direction
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: to stay very close to a person or place
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: to stay near a specified point or level
HOVER Defined for Kids
hover
playDefinition of hover for Students
hovered
;hovering
1 : to fly or float in the air without moving far in any direction Bees hovered around the hive.
2 : to stay near a place And Lockhart was hovering around all of them, making suggestions. — J. K. Rowling, Chamber of Secrets
Learn More about hover
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See words that rhyme with hover Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hover Spanish Central: Translation of hover Nglish: Translation of hover for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of hover for Arabic speakers
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