hug

\ ˈhəg

How to pronounce hug (audio)

\

hugged; hugging

Definition of hug

transitive verb

1 : to press tightly especially in the arms

2a : congratulate

b : to hold fast : cherish hugged his miseries like a sulky child— John Buchan

3 : to stay close to the road hugs the river

Other Words from hug Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about hug

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Examples of hug in a Sentence

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 Web The House district flows eastward from the prosperous Charlotte suburbs into rural areas hugging the South Carolina border. — Jonathan Lemire, Fortune, "Trump Uses North Carolina Campaign Rally to Slam ‘American-Hating Left’," 10 Sep. 2019 The House district flows eastward from the prosperous Charlotte suburbs into rural areas hugging the South Carolina border. — BostonGlobe.com, "WASHINGTON — President Trump’s rally in North Carolina will serve as a measure of his clout in trying to elect a Republican to the House in a closely watched special election that’s seen as a tossup race.," 10 Sep. 2019 The House district flows eastward from the prosperous Charlotte suburbs into rural areas hugging the South Carolina border. — Washington Post, "At rally, Trump paints bleak picture of Democratic control," 9 Sep. 2019 Andreescu ripped a return winner on her third match point and the two hugged at the net. — Ravi Ubha, CNN, "Bianca Andreescu beats Serena Williams to win her first US Open and grand slam title," 7 Sep. 2019 Every other house along the dirt road hugging a stretch of Burgaw Creek sat empty — sold off or abandoned after years of hurricanes and worsening floods. — Jack Healy, New York Times, "They Survived Dorian but Wonder How Many More Hurricanes They Can Withstand," 6 Sep. 2019 Christina Milian and Matt Pokora The singer and actress announced her pregnancy in July on Instagram with a photo of herself hugging French singer Pokora, who is seen holding a sonogram in front of her belly. — Rasha Ali, USA TODAY, "Pregnant celebrities 2019: Who's due, baby bump pics and gender reveals," 2 Sep. 2019 Eric McCormack, who stars as Will Truman, shared a photo of himself hugging Lovato. — Ashley Iasimone, Billboard, "Demi Lovato to Guest Star on 'Will & Grace'," 27 Aug. 2019 As the name implies, the manicure features a glossy but completely bare base nail, with a skinny stripe of polish hugging the curve of the cuticle. — Megan Decker, refinery29.com, "Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Just Wore Instagram's Favourite Minimalist Manicure," 22 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hug.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Learn More about hug

Dictionary Entries near hug

Statistics for hug

Last Updated

27 Oct 2019

Cite this Entry

“Hug.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hugged. Accessed 22 November 2019.

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More Definitions for hug

hug

verb

English Language Learners Definition of hug

: to put your arms around someone especially as a way of showing love or friendship

: to hold (something) tightly with your arms

: to stay close to (something)

See the full definition for hug in the English Language Learners Dictionary

hug

\ ˈhəg

\

hugged; hugging

Kids Definition of hug

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to clasp in the arms : embrace

2 : to keep close to The ship hugged the coast.

hug

Kids Definition of hug (Entry 2 of 2)

: embrace entry 2

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heterodox

not agreeing with established beliefs

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