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
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Recent Examples of hovering
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
That's how long Americans have been hovering around the same level of financial literacy—with little sign of real progress.
—Kevin Cohee, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Lower elevations will see high temperatures hovering around 100 degrees with widespread 80s across the higher elevations.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Nearly a decade after a US Navy pilot reported an unidentified flying object shaped like a spindle hovering off the East Coast, scientists in China have built and tested a drone with a strikingly similar profile.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2025
Many potential buyers have retreated to the sidelines of the markets due to sky-high home prices, historically elevated mortgage rates (still hovering around the 7 percent mark), and other rising housing costs like home insurance premiums, property taxes, and homeowner association (HOA) fees.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Fans posted pics of the stunning display, which found the massive lower case Oasis logo rendered in blue hovering in the air near the home of the Chicago Bears.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 28 Aug. 2025
So Mariano decides to just watch the astronaut hovering onscreen in zero gravity.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2025
Meanwhile, 30-year bond yields are hovering around their highest level since 1998.
—Ian King, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Sweeney recalls, hovering between the deli counter and shelves of bagged popcorn.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
That's how long Americans have been hovering around the same level of financial literacy—with little sign of real progress.
—Kevin Cohee, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Lower elevations will see high temperatures hovering around 100 degrees with widespread 80s across the higher elevations.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Nearly a decade after a US Navy pilot reported an unidentified flying object shaped like a spindle hovering off the East Coast, scientists in China have built and tested a drone with a strikingly similar profile.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2025
Many potential buyers have retreated to the sidelines of the markets due to sky-high home prices, historically elevated mortgage rates (still hovering around the 7 percent mark), and other rising housing costs like home insurance premiums, property taxes, and homeowner association (HOA) fees.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Fans posted pics of the stunning display, which found the massive lower case Oasis logo rendered in blue hovering in the air near the home of the Chicago Bears.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 28 Aug. 2025
So Mariano decides to just watch the astronaut hovering onscreen in zero gravity.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2025
Meanwhile, 30-year bond yields are hovering around their highest level since 1998.
—Ian King, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hovering
Verb
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The park service reminded the public to wear a life jacket when swimming, floating, fishing or boating on the Delaware River.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
4 Sep. 2025
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School shootings are an obvious one, made explicitly so by Archer seeing a giant AK-47 with the number 217 in red floating above a house.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Soderstrom followed with a drive to left, where Ward moved in and to his left before realizing the ball was sailing over his right shoulder.—
Mike Digiovanna,
Oc Register,
7 Sep. 2025
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Royal Caribbean International Royal Caribbean also encourages guests to dress up during voyages sailing over Halloween.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Of the other methods – including electrocution, lethal gas and hanging – lethal injection had the highest botch rate of more than 7%. ‘An embrace of brutality’ Still, states have remained averse to the firing squad, a position that experts who spoke to CNN believe stems from its overt violence.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN Money,
10 Apr. 2025
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The neutral material keeps it from looking like an eye sore and can be expanded for more hanging space as needed.—
Micaela Arnett,
Rolling Stone,
10 Jan. 2024
Verb
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Nearly every water excursion imaginable (snorkeling, boating, fishing, scalloping, kayaking, and swimming with manatees) is available for embarkation directly from the resort.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
3 Sep. 2025
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People should avoid swimming in murky lakes, ponds and streams.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Claudia Sahm, a former Fed economist and creator of the Sahm Rule recession indicator, also noted that inflation is clearly drifting in the wrong direction.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
29 Aug. 2025
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Now, the James Webb Space Telescope and another newer observatory known as SPHEREx had their own opportunities to document the intriguing comet, which has been drifting through interstellar space for billions of years.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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During my late April stay, the water was still and inviting—ideal for a morning kayaking session, gliding quietly across the lake's surface.—
Susmita Baral,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Sep. 2025
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Location Anchored between Blackfriars Bridge and the Tate Modern, Sea Containers is a front-row perch to London’s cultural tide—where the Thames unfurls like a silver sash, ferries gliding past in a daily ballet of commuters and sightseers.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Wearing a sleeveless, moisture-wicking workout shirt suctioned to his imposing frame, Bowyer comes across as poised, calm — almost eerily so.—
DAVID AMSDEN,
Rolling Stone,
29 Aug. 2025
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Later that year, political pressure forced the government to pause licensing plans, though companies remain poised to resume if approvals restart.—
Ingmar Rentzhog,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hovering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hovering. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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