hov·er | \ ˈhə-vər 
, ˈhä- \
, ˈhä- \hovered; hovering\ ˈhə-v(ə-)riŋ , ˈhä- \
, ˈhä- \Definition of hover
(Entry 1 of 2)
: 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
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
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Other Words from hover
Verb
hoverer \ ˈhə-vər-ər , ˈhä- \ noun
, ˈhä- \ noun
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.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Occupancy rates for many hotels hover around 30 to 40 percent, according to Yiu Si-Wing, a lawmaker who represents the tourism sector.
—
Vivian Wang, New York Times, "A Quarantine Nightmare: Three Weeks in a Hotel, if You Can Find One," 6 Jan. 2021 Mexico City is currently under red alert as its hospitals' COVID-19 beds hover near capacity.
—
Christopher Sherman, ajc, "Mexico City ban on single-use plastics takes effect," 1 Jan. 2021 The future of policing amid recent spikes in violent crime in the Twin Cities is certain to hover over any debates in the upcoming session over public safety, criminal justice and state spending in this areas.
—
Stephen Montemayor, Star Tribune, "Sen. Warren Limmer emerges as crucial legislator in police reform debate," 28 Dec. 2020 Though Christmas Eve highs will hover at around 80 degrees, forecasts project temperatures will fall rapidly overnight.
—
Julia Musto, Fox News, "Florida to get coldest Christmas Eve in 2 decades," 24 Dec. 2020 One of the most visually arresting scenes aboard the Aether is when Maya is injured during the space walk, and drops of blood float out of her spacesuit and hover near her, thanks to the lack of gravity.
—
Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "Poignant The Midnight Sky wrestles with whether humankind is worth saving," 24 Dec. 2020 Point is this trainer is on fire and his in-the-money percentages hover over 55%.
—
John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, "Horse racing newsletter: Louis Rabaut digs into Los Al results," 17 Dec. 2020 While White Claws, Trulys and other hard seltzer brands hover around the 100-calorie range per 12-oz.
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Brian Manzullo, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan brewery invents Smooj, the hard seltzer smoothie, and it's delicious," 16 Dec. 2020 Interest rates continue to hover near zero, and many feel the stock market is overbought.
—
Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, "Indiegogo founder launches Vincent, a site to discover alternative investments," 8 Dec. 2020
See MoreThese 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.
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More Definitions for hover
hover
verb English Language Learners Definition of hover
: to float in the air without moving in any direction
: to stay very close to a person or place
: to stay near a specified point or level
See the full definition for hover in the English Language Learners Dictionary
hover
verbhov·er | \ ˈhə-vər , ˈhä- \
, ˈhä- \hovered; hovering
Kids Definition of hover
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
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Comments on hover
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Time Traveler for hover
The first known use of hover was in the 15th century
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