hug

1 of 2

verb

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
(figurative) Jerome looked puzzled, or pretended to. In reality he was hugging himself with delight.Lucy Maud Montgomery
2
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 childJohn Buchan
huggable adjective
… whenever you get a chance at a reunion to hug someone who looks huggable, do it. 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

hug

2 of 2

noun

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
Peggotty was not slow to respond, and ratify the treaty of friendship by giving me one of her best hugs.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 Web
Verb
Saucony Men's Guide 16 Sneakers $140 $60 Another on-sale Saucony pick, the Men's Guide 16 Sneakers are up to 57 percent off and ready for action with their full-foot cushioning, which perfectly hugs your toes, arches, and heels for optimal support on long days on your feet. Aly Walansky, Travel + Leisure, 22 Mar. 2024 Following the game, however, Jason was sure to hug and congratulate his brother on the win. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024 Esparza hugged Gabriella Bernard who's been working at the restaurant for 14 years. The Arizona Republic, 20 Mar. 2024 This was a time when a picture of Gromek and Doby hugging was a revelation, or even a revolution. Detroit Free Press, 17 Mar. 2024 According to the New York Times, a district court judge in the city of Seongnam ruled that Oh was guilty of inappropriately touching an actress in 2017, including hugging her, holding her hand and kissing her cheek. Ellise Shafer, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024 The activities included meeting, playing, feeding, massaging, grooming, photographing, hugging and walking the dog. Kristen Rogers, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024 Director Gerwig ran up to hug the pair following the announcement of their win. Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2024 Gomez’s post also included a carousel of pictures of the happy couple hugging, snuggling, kissing, touching tongues and spinning around on the teacup ride. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 8 Mar. 2024
Noun
Suggestions include frequent cuddles and hugs, having a person the child is close to nearby to keep their routine as normal as possible, and using allowing the child to see a parent in the hospital in real time via video, phone or other technological means. Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024 Homme embraced Grohl in a strong hug at the end of his appearance. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2024 Reddit Agrees—Mother's Day Is for the Mom in the Trenches 08 of 11 Hugs and Kisses Give mom never-ending hugs and kisses with this free downloadable Mother's Day card. Nicole Harris, Parents, 20 Mar. 2024 News of the administration is the latest blow for Ted Baker which has been struggling to revive its fortunes since it was engulfed in a scandal in 2019 when founder Ray Kelvin departed after being accused of inappropriate hugs and other behavior in the workplace. Sabah Meddings, Fortune Europe, 20 Mar. 2024 Perry repeatedly encouraged Athena to raise her voice and sing it out loud as the singer hit a series of high notes during her second go and Perry jumped to her feet, sweeping Angelina up in a giant spinning hug. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 18 Mar. 2024 They were asked to avoid unnecessary forms of touch like handshakes and hugs and people watching the games were asked not to sing or chant – only clap. Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2024 As the courtroom cleared, families of the victims stopped to shake hands and hug. Kim Bellware, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024 Meghan told her before congratulating her with a hug. Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 14 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.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse hugga to soothe

First Known Use

Verb

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1659, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hug was in 1567

Dictionary Entries Near hug

Cite this Entry

“Hug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hug. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hug

verb
hugged; hugging
1
: to press tightly especially in the arms : embrace
2
: to stay close to
drives along hugging the curb
hug noun

More from Merriam-Webster on hug

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