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
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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
Matt Richardson, CBS News, 23 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
At the time of writing, shares are hovering around the $173 mark, down over 20 percent over its all-time high on Tuesday.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 18 June 2026
In the late 1970s, the average voter in each party was more or less neutral toward the opposing party, with scores hovering just below 50 degrees.
—Charlie Hunt, The Conversation, 18 June 2026
Photos from the incident showed dozens of rescuers hovering over the narrow hole, which was roughly five feet wide, while lowering a ladder down to the man.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026
The dialectic moves between crashing despair and hovering hope.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Shares of SpaceX were around 6% higher at the start of premarket trading, hovering around the $170 mark.
—Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 15 June 2026
Firms stop hiring entry-level talent—contributing to youth unemployment rates hovering near 5-6% for recent graduates—while top performers flee toxic environments.
—Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 14 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
With credit card interest rates still hovering around 20%, this may be less a strategic move and more a mandatory one.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 23 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
At the time of writing, shares are hovering around the $173 mark, down over 20 percent over its all-time high on Tuesday.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 18 June 2026
In the late 1970s, the average voter in each party was more or less neutral toward the opposing party, with scores hovering just below 50 degrees.
—Charlie Hunt, The Conversation, 18 June 2026
Photos from the incident showed dozens of rescuers hovering over the narrow hole, which was roughly five feet wide, while lowering a ladder down to the man.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026
The dialectic moves between crashing despair and hovering hope.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Shares of SpaceX were around 6% higher at the start of premarket trading, hovering around the $170 mark.
—Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 15 June 2026
Firms stop hiring entry-level talent—contributing to youth unemployment rates hovering near 5-6% for recent graduates—while top performers flee toxic environments.
—Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hovering
Adjective
-
Opt for bigger hanging bulbs, discrete flickers, or even hanging sheaths.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
3 Apr. 2026
-
To maintain the immersive illusion, Iñárritu eschewed traditional hanging fabric.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Plan a day trip floating along the river or utilize the many campsites for a multi-day journey.—
Kelsey Yandura,
Midwest Living,
17 June 2026
-
One sixty-year-old from Fukushima was discovered two days later, ten miles out at sea, floating on a piece of the roof of his home.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
In addition, the action includes top-tier spider combat and awesome web-slinging and web-gliding traversal abilities.—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Tehran retaliated by targeting ships sailing through the strait, effectively closing the sea lane and triggering the biggest oil supply disruption in history.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
17 June 2026
-
Russia’s defense ministry said the crew fired warning shots several hundred yards in front of the yacht, which appeared to be sailing on a collision course with the vessel.—
Hira Humayun,
CNN Money,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
The designer’s looks blend vintage romance and modern simplicity to create poised looks with a fun, feminine flair.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
8 June 2026
-
Growing up a ballet dancer, Geier is very poised, mindful, and demure.—
Laura Sirikul,
Forbes.com,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Quincy High School principal Keith Ford wrote in a letter to families obtained by CBS Boston that Costa was swimming at the Boston-area pond with his classmates, all of whom had just graduated on June 9.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
-
An activity that may seem leisurely, such as swimming in a river, could end up more dangerous if someone encounters an unexpected rip current.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
Verb
-
The bedroom window was open wide, the char of campfire smoke drifting through.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 June 2026
-
Most concerning, according to an analysis by the San Diego County Taxpayers Association, is a 2026-27 spending plan that is balanced on paper but drifting steadily toward a structural deficit like the one that haunts the city of San Diego.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hovering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hovering. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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