hover

1 of 2

verb

hov·​er ˈhə-vər How to pronounce hover (audio) ˈhä- How to pronounce hover (audio)
hovered; hovering ˈhə-v(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce hover (audio)
ˈhä-

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

1
a
: 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.
2
a
: 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.
hoverer noun

hover

2 of 2

noun

plural hovers
: 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

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
White unemployment hovers near 3.4%, while Blacks hover at 5.6% and Hispanics at 5%. Byruth Umoh, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024 The Cougars’ lead hovered between nine and 14 points the rest of the way. Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2024 While hovering over a beach in Australia, a drone captured footage of a dog’s close scrape with a crocodile lurking just offshore. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2024 As the countdown to the 96th Academy Awards winds to an end, little suspense hovers over who will win the Oscar for supporting actress. Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 The sets by David Rockwell alternate between Aloysius’s office and a church courtyard, and when combined with Linda Cho’s costumes, Kenneth Posner’s lighting, and the subject matter itself, everything feels dark and grey — like a permanent cloud hovering overhead. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 7 Mar. 2024 In most states, her share of the vote hovered at around 25 percent or less. Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024 Many people will hover right in the middle, offering nutritious foods and snacks but allowing indulgences from time to time. Jenny Sweigard, Verywell Health, 4 Mar. 2024 Details of serious criminal allegations and official police misconduct have hovered over Golubski for years. Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 1 Mar. 2024
Noun
Still, Titan’s average surface temperature hovers around -290 degrees Fahrenheit, making liquid water on the surface impossible. Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 7 Mar. 2024 Patients 40 to 54 accounted for 19% of the procedures, which is a large jump from the 30 to 39 demographic at 2%, but pretty consistent with data from the last three years (the 40 to 54 group hovers around 20% of total facelifts performed). Kirbie Johnson, Allure, 6 Mar. 2024 For most financial services CISOs, this metric hovers around 10.5%. Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024 The underside of the roof is clad in teak and hovers over the house. Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2024 On the day of the visit, the increasingly unhinged Eva hovers outside the room, fuming. Peter Debruge, Variety, 22 Feb. 2024 Here are a few broad-stroke keys that will hold true across the whole map: Pay attention to when the nightly low air temperature hovers in the 60s, look for water temps in the mid- to upper-50s, and pay attention to the timing of the full moon when these other two criteria are steady. Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 21 Feb. 2024 That means, a month’s supply of Zoloft can cost patients without insurance upwards of $400, while the average retail price for the generic alternative hovers around $20, according to GoodRx. USA TODAY, 29 Feb. 2024 But the future of the practice could be in doubt as the town's population hovers near the minimum number of residents needed to keep it alive. Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hover.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English hoveren, frequentative of hoven to hover

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1513, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hover was in the 15th century

Cite this Entry

“Hover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hover. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hover

verb
hov·​er ˈhəv-ər How to pronounce hover (audio) ˈhäv- How to pronounce hover (audio)
hovered; hovering -(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce hover (audio)
1
a
: to hang fluttering in the air or on the wing
a bird hovered overhead
b
: to remain floating over a place or object
2
a
: to move to and fro near a place
waiters hovered about
b
: to be in an undecided or uncertain state
hovering between life and death
hover noun
hoverer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on hover

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