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hook 1 of 2

noun

ˈhu̇k How to pronounce hook (audio)
Definition of hooknext
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument delivered a hard right hook that struck his opponent in the eye

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hook

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to bend
to cause to turn away from a straight line the pitcher hooked the ball, and the batter missed

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2
as in to connect
to put or bring together so as to form a new and longer whole hooked up three short chains together to make a longer necklace

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3
as in to steal
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep the monkey hooked four bananas from the basket and scampered away to enjoy them

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4
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly I hooked the biggest fish of the day, and then released it

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5
as in to curve
to turn away from a straight line or course hang the bird feeder on a branch that hooks upward

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hook
Noun
Identify the hook, character, format, pacing and call to action. — Zoe Huang, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Dow stood with three tattooed and shirtless jumpers, weaving white paracord through hooks in the canvas and cinching it tight. — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
The states argued that the company deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram to hook children into using its apps, misled the public about the harm and improperly collected data from children under 13. — Carolina Rossini, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026 Now Big Social Media is facing its Big Tobacco moment in court as four states—California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey—try to prove that Meta designed Instagram and Facebook to keep young users hooked. — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hook
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hook
  1. blow
  2. bend
  3. connect
  4. steal
  5. grab
  6. curve
  7. slap
  8. arch
Noun
  • Abby meanwhile was killed in the upstairs guest bedroom, but hit first on the side of the head before being dealt a total of 17 blows.
    — Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Connecticut was among the few states helping to cover the loss of federal health insurance subsidies by earmarking millions of dollars to soften the blow for more than 150,000 Connecticut residents.
    — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of blow
Verb
  • Get ready for a chaotic, genre-bending ride through the glorious absurdities of modern life!
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The time-bending romance, led by the charming Louis Garrel, is based on Hungry Heart, a book of shorts by Eshkol Nevo.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of bend
Verb
  • That gave Michigan one more shot, and Underwood made this one count, connecting with JJ Buchanan for a game-winning 47-yard touchdown to avert disaster in Kyle Whittingham’s debut as Wolverines coach.
    — Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The next step will connect microscopic damage with the properties that matter most for fusion magnets.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of connect
Verb
  • But while Mahomes looked crisp, Kansas City’s $43 million offseason prize stole the entire spotlight.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The theft-prone models lack a critical safeguard called an engine immobilizer pioneered in the mid-1980s, when more than 60,000 cars a year were stolen in Los Angeles alone.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of steal
Verb
  • Emmys nights one and two saw Widow’s Bay pick up a whopping eight trophies, one short of The Studio’s total of nine last year, and this evening might end with Widow’s Bay grabbing a lot of the same awards The Studio did last year.
    — Vulture Staff, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Researchers have long recognized that humor can grab attention, deepen social connection, and build attraction.
    — Norbert Schwarz, Harvard Business Review, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of grab
Verb
  • The uppers dipped low at the sides, while the pump’s heel curved inward before widening slightly at its base.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The foreground object can warp the fabric of spacetime in such a way that the light's path is curved.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of curve
Noun
  • Power, in-your-face attitude, and urgency are what make half of the Pretenders’ still-extraordinary 1978 debut slap.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Her Oscars triumph was also the night of the notorious Will Smith-Chris Rock on-stage slap, which overshadowed coverage.
    — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of slap
Verb
  • This is the oldest inhabited castle in Scotland, complete with turrets, arched windows and red stone walls.
    — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 17 Sep. 2026
  • In subsequent images, Sweeney arched her back while laying on a basketball on the ground, slung a wooden baseball bat over one shoulder, and covered her body with a silver hockey stick.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of arch

Phrases Containing hook

Browse Nearby Words

hoo-has
hook
hooked
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Cite this Entry

“Hook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hook. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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