hover

verb

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hov·er | \ ˈhə-vər

, ˈhä-

hovered; hovering\ ˈhə-v(ə-)riŋ

, ˈhä- \

Definition of hover

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

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

noun

plural hovers

Definition of hover (Entry 2 of 2)

: 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

Other Words from hover Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about hover

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Synonyms & Antonyms for hover

Synonyms: Verb

Antonyms: Verb

settle,
sink

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 The less managers hover over their workforces, the more creativity can be allowed to come out. — Jordan Erskine, Forbes, "Why Goal-Setting Fails (And Four Ways To Fix It)," 6 Apr. 2021 That has changed in recent months—at least for the private companies with better assets and lower debt—as U.S. benchmark prices hover above $60 a barrel. — Collin Eaton, WSJ, "Pioneer’s $6.4 Billion Deal for Smaller Shale Rival Signals Life in Oil Patch," 3 Apr. 2021 But decades later, the past would come back to hover over them. — Washington Post, "Canada is struggling to deport its last known Nazi suspect," 30 Mar. 2021 My annual weather watch begins right about now, while daytime temperatures hover around freezing. — Susan Dietrich Hassler, Star Tribune, "Got a maple tree? How to make homemade maple syrup from your own backyard," 3 Mar. 2021 Hummingbirds can fly up, down, sideways and hover in midair. — Jennifer Rude Klett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "10 amazing facts about ruby-throated hummingbirds," 18 Mar. 2021 Bitcoin also bounces around between its big moves, and may hover above or below the key thresholds in the meantime. — Jen Wieczner, Fortune, "The ancient mathematical pattern predicting Bitcoin will hit $70,000," 17 Mar. 2021 Average temperatures in mid-March usually stop just short of 40 degrees or hover right around it, according to weather service data. — Leslie Bonilla, chicagotribune.com, "Central Illinois rain to become northern Illinois snow and sleet, forecasters say: ‘It’s going to be kind of nasty out there’," 15 Mar. 2021 Lake Baikal this time of year to skate, bike, hike, run, drive, hover and ski over a stark expanse of ice and snow, while Russians escape the cold to Turkey or Thailand. — New York Times, "For Russians in a Pandemic, Lake Baikal Is the Place to See and Be Seen," 15 Mar. 2021

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.