hovers; hovered; hovering
1
: to float in the air without moving in any direction
Watch as the hummingbird hovers over the flowers.
Helicopters hovered above us.
Bees hovered around the hive.
2
: to stay very close to a person or place
Waiters hovered near our table.
nervous mothers hovering over their children
3
always followed by an adverb or preposition
a
: to stay near a specified point or level
Unemployment rates were hovering around 10 percent.
Temperatures will continue to hover around freezing.
b
: to be or remain in a specified state or condition
The patient was hovering between life and death.
The country hovers on the brink of famine.
Cite this Entry
“Hover.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/hover. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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