as in floating
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air
claimed that the UFO hovered a moment, then spun off into space at incredible speed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 hovering
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
1 June 2026
This is surprising for something that is supposed to require less hovering, especially if the host is out of hearing range of the device's alerts.
—
New Atlas,
20 Feb. 2026
New Atlas,
2 July 2026
Markets have responded to the absence of immediate escalation, with WTI hovering around $70/bbl, but the strategic conditions that generated the crisis persist.
—
Ariel Cohen,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
The arrest news also comes as the number of people entered into ICE detention facilities climbed in June to roughly 39,000 after hovering near 30,000 per month since February, according to information obtained by the Associated Press.
—
Rebecca Santana,
Los Angeles Times,
2 July 2026
What distinguishes Union County from a standard addiction narrative is that Poulter and Centineo are flanked by nonactors, the overall effect hovering somewhere between fiction and nonfiction.
—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
1 July 2026
Mortgage interest rates, for example, were hovering under 6% earlier this year before surging in the spring.
—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
Heat domes are essentially high-pressure systems hovering above a region that trap heat and humidity, experts say.
—
Alexa St. John,
Fortune,
30 June 2026
The president’s approval rating was hovering around 38% in a June survey taken by Quinnipiac University, with independents and Democrats driving much of that dissatisfaction.
—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
Attendance at the annual event has grown, Rodgers said, with attendance before the pandemic hovering around 3,000 but about 6,000 coming to the festival a year ago.
—
David Sharos,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
Adjective
He-Man was now a jolly, quip-ready hero, whose best friends were scaredy-cat Cringer (a green-and-yellow tiger who transformed into Battle Cat), and an annoying, hovering magician called Orko.
—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
1 June 2026
This is surprising for something that is supposed to require less hovering, especially if the host is out of hearing range of the device's alerts.
—
New Atlas,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
When both extend simultaneously – as the real bird does during hovering – the lift increase is greater than the sum of the two movements separately, but their pitching effects cancel each other out.
—
New Atlas,
2 July 2026
Markets have responded to the absence of immediate escalation, with WTI hovering around $70/bbl, but the strategic conditions that generated the crisis persist.
—
Ariel Cohen,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
The arrest news also comes as the number of people entered into ICE detention facilities climbed in June to roughly 39,000 after hovering near 30,000 per month since February, according to information obtained by the Associated Press.
—
Rebecca Santana,
Los Angeles Times,
2 July 2026
What distinguishes Union County from a standard addiction narrative is that Poulter and Centineo are flanked by nonactors, the overall effect hovering somewhere between fiction and nonfiction.
—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
1 July 2026
Mortgage interest rates, for example, were hovering under 6% earlier this year before surging in the spring.
—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
Heat domes are essentially high-pressure systems hovering above a region that trap heat and humidity, experts say.
—
Alexa St. John,
Fortune,
30 June 2026
The president’s approval rating was hovering around 38% in a June survey taken by Quinnipiac University, with independents and Democrats driving much of that dissatisfaction.
—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
Attendance at the annual event has grown, Rodgers said, with attendance before the pandemic hovering around 3,000 but about 6,000 coming to the festival a year ago.
—
David Sharos,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hovering
Adjective
-
Opt for bigger hanging bulbs, discrete flickers, or even hanging sheaths.
-
To maintain the immersive illusion, Iñárritu eschewed traditional hanging fabric.
Verb
-
But photos showed that the blue sealant had started to peel away, leaving chunks floating on the surface, while algae growth turned the water green.
-
The character famously filmed herself floating in the pool and living her best Southern California sorority girl life.
Adjective
-
In addition, the action includes top-tier spider combat and awesome web-slinging and web-gliding traversal abilities.
Verb
-
Options for activities include paddleboarding and chasing Arctic swells in the fjords, sailing through sea cliffs and the uninhabited Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, and spotting whales, seals, Arctic foxes, and more wildlife.
-
Sail4th 250 kicks off Friday, featuring 40 vessels representing 40 nations sailing from the Verrazzano Bridge all the way north to the George Washington Bridge and docking at piers on 15 miles of waterfront across the city.
Adjective
-
The designer’s looks blend vintage romance and modern simplicity to create poised looks with a fun, feminine flair.
-
So my oldest, Richard, is super poised and has always sort of been the rock for our family.
Verb
-
According to officials, an adult woman was swimming in the river when she was bitten by an alligator, resulting in serious injuries.
-
Authorities have warned people to take extra care when swimming in unsupervised areas, such as rivers or lakes, following the deaths of around 40 people in France over the past week.
Verb
-
Without it, the experience risks drifting into the broad category of pretty resort dinner.
-
People often watch them with comments from other viewers drifting across their screens.
Cite this Entry
“Hovering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hovering. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
