hugged; hugging; hugs
1
a
transitive + intransitive
: to press (someone) tightly in one's arms especially as a sign of affection
They hugged each other before saying goodbye.
We hugged briefly.
b
transitive
: to hold (something) tightly with the arms
She hugged her knees to her chest.
c
transitive
: to wrap one's arms around (oneself)
She was wearing only a wraparound denim skirt over her black bathing suit, and in the chill of approaching evening was hugging herself.—
John Updike
John Updike(figurative) Jerome looked puzzled, or pretended to. In reality he was hugging himself with delight.—Lucy Maud Montgomery
Lucy Maud Montgomery2
transitive
: to stay close to (something)
a road that hugs the river
a boat hugging the shore
clothes that hug your body's curves [=tight-fitting clothes]
3
transitive
: to hold (something) fast : cherish
… hugged his miseries like a sulky child—John Buchan
John Buchan
huggable
adjective
… whenever you get a chance at a reunion to hug someone who looks huggable, do it.
—Mike Deupree
Mike Deupree
hugger
noun
plural huggers
Senior is restrained, the sort of man you lean close to, to hear. Junior is a hugger and kisser, buoyant, vibrant, colorful.
—Rick Reilly
Rick Reilly
plural hugs
: a close embrace with the arms especially as a sign of affection
She gave me a hug.
hugs and kisses
"He was very, very compassionate. Very loving. He always gave you a hug hello and a hug goodbye."—The Salt Lake Tribune
The Salt Lake TribunePeggotty was not slow to respond, and ratify the treaty of friendship by giving me one of her best hugs.—Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Examples of hug in a Sentence
Verb
We hugged briefly, and then it was time to say goodbye.
I hugged my knees to my chest.
The road hugs the river.
The boat hugged the shore.
Recent Examples on the WebRachel Ramirez, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
While most women were dressed to the nines in staid, conservative gowns, the former TV journalist rocked a body hugging, corset-style number.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024
On Thursday's episode, Ronnie had hugged the other female cast members but not Sammi, who didn't seem receptive to one from him.
—Chris Jordan, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
The mine will also hug the North Country Trail, which extends roughly 4,800 miles from North Dakota to Vermont.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2024
So, spend this day hugging your sibling, taking them out for ice cream or maybe watching your favorite movie together.
—Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024
The Times’ Lila Seidman has a wonderful story about a 300-mile pathway through the world’s tallest trees, hugging the Pacific coast, being planned along a former railway.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Just over the room’s fireplace was the campaign’s hero image—Gray in tousled bedsheets, covered only by a pair of Frame denim jeans hugged to her chest (a creative choice Torstensson, who also shot the campaign, credited entirely to Gray).
—Jamila Stewart, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
The songs swell and retreat, like a forgiving tide, to make room for uncertainty to hug tolerance.
—Margaret Farrell, SPIN, 3 Apr. 2024
Zoe Denenberg, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2024
If it’s meant to be the last Bluey story, then some degree of wish fulfillment, along with a curtain call for the larger ensemble and that emotionally overwhelming hug on the front lawn, feels deserved enough.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2024
Then-Vice President Joe Biden invited a group of Rosies to the White House in 2014, after Gould wrote him asking for a hug.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 10 Apr. 2024
Mansion Flats Mansion Flats is located east of Alkali Flat and hugs downtown Sacramento.
—Hanh Truong, Sacramento Bee, 6 Apr. 2024
Luckily, this newsletter has arrived like a warm hug.
—Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 4 Apr. 2024
And the friendly staff waves goodbye with smiles and hugs, like family.
—Luisita Lopez Torregrosa, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
At a recent Taylor Swift concert in Singapore, fans spotted Carpenter running into the actor’s arms after finishing her opening set, wrapping him in a tight hug.
—Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 1 Apr. 2024
With the help of parental hugs, perspective and sympathy, of course.
Your son clearly trusts you with the details.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024
Verb
The vast 1,300-acre site hugged the banks of the Schuylkill River on the southern part of the city, where heavy industry has been prominent since the 1860s.
—Rachel Ramirez, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
While most women were dressed to the nines in staid, conservative gowns, the former TV journalist rocked a body hugging, corset-style number.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024
On Thursday's episode, Ronnie had hugged the other female cast members but not Sammi, who didn't seem receptive to one from him.
—Chris Jordan, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
The mine will also hug the North Country Trail, which extends roughly 4,800 miles from North Dakota to Vermont.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2024
So, spend this day hugging your sibling, taking them out for ice cream or maybe watching your favorite movie together.
—Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024
The Times’ Lila Seidman has a wonderful story about a 300-mile pathway through the world’s tallest trees, hugging the Pacific coast, being planned along a former railway.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Just over the room’s fireplace was the campaign’s hero image—Gray in tousled bedsheets, covered only by a pair of Frame denim jeans hugged to her chest (a creative choice Torstensson, who also shot the campaign, credited entirely to Gray).
—Jamila Stewart, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
The songs swell and retreat, like a forgiving tide, to make room for uncertainty to hug tolerance.
—Margaret Farrell, SPIN, 3 Apr. 2024
Noun
Get the Recipe 30 of 80 Baked Oatmeal This cinnamon-spiced baked oatmeal has the texture of a bread pudding and tastes somewhere between homemade oatmeal cookies and a warm hug.
—Zoe Denenberg, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2024
If it’s meant to be the last Bluey story, then some degree of wish fulfillment, along with a curtain call for the larger ensemble and that emotionally overwhelming hug on the front lawn, feels deserved enough.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2024
Then-Vice President Joe Biden invited a group of Rosies to the White House in 2014, after Gould wrote him asking for a hug.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 10 Apr. 2024
Mansion Flats Mansion Flats is located east of Alkali Flat and hugs downtown Sacramento.
—Hanh Truong, Sacramento Bee, 6 Apr. 2024
Luckily, this newsletter has arrived like a warm hug.
—Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 4 Apr. 2024
And the friendly staff waves goodbye with smiles and hugs, like family.
—Luisita Lopez Torregrosa, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
At a recent Taylor Swift concert in Singapore, fans spotted Carpenter running into the actor’s arms after finishing her opening set, wrapping him in a tight hug.
—Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 1 Apr. 2024
With the help of parental hugs, perspective and sympathy, of course.
Your son clearly trusts you with the details.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hug.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near hug
Cite this Entry
“Hug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hug. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
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