hover

verb

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

drift, float, glide, hang, poise, ride, sail, swim, waft

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

His fastball topped out at 94 mph against Aaron Judge at Yankee Stadium, but has mostly hovered around the high-80s and low-90s. — Shayna Rubin, The Mercury News, "Three stats to know as the Athletics enter regular season home stretch," 14 Sep. 2019 The numbers suggest the world is making slow progress in reducing the use of hydrocarbons, which still hovers around 80% of total energy supplies, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). — John Defterios, CNN, "Why switching to renewables is proving a slow burn," 13 Sep. 2019 Inspiration came at the right time for the Eagles, who have high expectations with a senior-laden team that has hovered around the .500 mark for the past three seasons. — Shawn Mcfarland, courant.com, "In a battle for his life after cancer diagnosis, Tolland football coach Scott Cady has found peace on the field and support in the community," 12 Sep. 2019 The problem is that Mica’s summit hovers around 8,600 feet. — Melanie Radzicki Mcmanus, chicagotribune.com, "‘Hiker trash,’ a fat rattlesnake and fickle Mother Nature: What it’s like to trek 800 miles on the Arizona Trail," 4 Sep. 2019 Most economists expect growth to hover around 2% through year-end. — CBS News, "U.S. economy slowed slightly in second quarter," 29 Aug. 2019 The Virginia legislature instilled the cap in 2009, which kept in-state enrollment at the University of Virginia hovering around 66% of total enrollment for years. — Teghan Simonton, USA TODAY, "Despite trends, some public colleges say they are fighting to keep in-state students home," 19 Aug. 2019 In the summer, the weather hovers around a balmy 50 degrees, and caribou herds, sheep, and wild foxes can be seen. — Jae Thomas, Marie Claire, "The Best National Parks for Every Kind of Vacation," 15 Aug. 2019 The threshold cell circumference at which that happened hovered around 41 microns. — Quanta Magazine, "For Embryo’s Cells, Size Can Determine Fate," 12 Aug. 2019

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.