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

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Typical high temperatures in March hover around minus-56 (minus-48.7 Celsius). — Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2022 Parts of eastern Antarctica have seen temperatures hover 70 degrees (40 Celsius) above normal for three days and counting, Wille said. — Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2022 The researchers said Michigan's unemployment rate is expected to hover around 6% for the remainder of the year and the first quarter of 2022 before dropping more rapidly over the rest of next year. — Adrienne Roberts, Detroit Free Press, 20 Nov. 2021 Still, credit him for at least setting an ambitious target for 2021, especially with a team widely believed to hover around .500 for the next four-plus months. — Dan Wiederer, chicagotribune.com, 10 Sep. 2021 Once checks are complete, Ingenuity will lift off, climbing at a rate of about 3 feet/1 meter per second to hover at 10 feet/3 meters above the surface for up to 30 seconds. — Jamie Carter, Forbes, 5 Apr. 2021 Areas of the Hood River Valley could have a slight chance of morning freezing rain as temperatures hover near 32 degrees early Thursday. — oregonlive, 13 Jan. 2022 Erin Clouse, strategic engagement manager for University of Utah Health, said in a Facebook Live community briefing that the current surge has stretched for 12 weeks as hospitalizations hover between 500 and 600 a day with no sign of letting up. — Scott D. Pierce, The Salt Lake Tribune, 9 Dec. 2021 Downtown should hover in the mid-40s and so should areas near larger bodies of water. — Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2022 See More

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.

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Dictionary Entries Near hover

Hovenweep National Monument

hover

hovercraft

Statistics for hover

Last Updated

16 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Hover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hover. Accessed 18 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for hover

hover

verb

hov·er | \ ˈhə-vər

, 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, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets