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 DickensExamples 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
Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Brazilian photojournalists on either side, both women, hugged me in an eruption of ebullience in the Lumière.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
Scorsese and his light disdain for streamers’ homepage tiles was greeted with applause, and both Scorsese and Panahi, who ended their chat with a long hug on stage, were met with a standing ovation.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hug
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Verb
In the summer, lush green pastures and 6-foot cornstalks hug the highway like veins funneling blood through the region.
—Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Brazilian photojournalists on either side, both women, hugged me in an eruption of ebullience in the Lumière.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
An ad promoting tourism in the land of moose and syrup went viral this summer for its compassion (and free hugs).
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
Scorsese and his light disdain for streamers’ homepage tiles was greeted with applause, and both Scorsese and Panahi, who ended their chat with a long hug on stage, were met with a standing ovation.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hug
Cite this Entry
“Hug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hug. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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