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
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Recent Examples of hovering
New Atlas, 20 Feb. 2026
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
That, in turn, has caused the price of the metal to surge, breaking past the $5,000 mark in January after hovering under $3,000 per ounce just one year ago.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
Sales have been hovering close to a 4-million annual pace now going back to 2023.
—ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
What does that spell for the model’s secondary market value, currently hovering between $19,000 and $24,000?
—Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 9 Mar. 2026
While hovering or during vertical takeoff, the X-76 operates like a conventional tilt-rotor.
—David Szondy
march 09, New Atlas, 9 Mar. 2026
The onions will take some time to caramelize, but each minute spent hovering over the stove top will be worth the wait.
—Restaurant Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Their time to strike is now, heading into 2026 free agency with roughly $28 million in current cap room — hovering in the top third of all NFL teams, according to Over The Cap — and plenty of levers to pull to create more space and throw money around in the market.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2026
There’s a massive odds fall-off to the next rung of teams, with Puerto Rico and Mexico each hovering around +2000 and Canada either at +5000 (50-to-1) or +6000.
—J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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
That decline in leadership shows up in authoritative surveys like the Pew Research Center’s benchmark poll, which finds that trust in government to do what’s right is hovering near historic lows.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
That, in turn, has caused the price of the metal to surge, breaking past the $5,000 mark in January after hovering under $3,000 per ounce just one year ago.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
Sales have been hovering close to a 4-million annual pace now going back to 2023.
—ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
What does that spell for the model’s secondary market value, currently hovering between $19,000 and $24,000?
—Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 9 Mar. 2026
While hovering or during vertical takeoff, the X-76 operates like a conventional tilt-rotor.
—David Szondy
march 09, New Atlas, 9 Mar. 2026
The onions will take some time to caramelize, but each minute spent hovering over the stove top will be worth the wait.
—Restaurant Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Their time to strike is now, heading into 2026 free agency with roughly $28 million in current cap room — hovering in the top third of all NFL teams, according to Over The Cap — and plenty of levers to pull to create more space and throw money around in the market.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2026
There’s a massive odds fall-off to the next rung of teams, with Puerto Rico and Mexico each hovering around +2000 and Canada either at +5000 (50-to-1) or +6000.
—J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hovering
Verb
-
In the 1980s, when Christo wanted to wrap nearly a dozen islands in Biscayne Bay in more than 6 million square feet of floating pink plastic fabric, the renowned artist known for his massive installations had to get through DERM first.—
Jenny Staletovich,
Miami Herald,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The hours suspended, floating in this space with him and the driver.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
To maintain the immersive illusion, Iñárritu eschewed traditional hanging fabric.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Leaving either of those bare was a topic of discussion, Carney says; a trade-off between the goal of paying homage to Steinway’s legacy and getting enough hanging space.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Tripoli was spotted by commercial satellites sailing alone near Taiwan, putting it more than a week away from the waters off Iran.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Obama visited the island, shook hands with Raúl Castro, celebrities were vacationing in Havana, international artists hosted concerts and cruise ships even started sailing from Miami to Havana.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For fish tables, players aim to shoot different fish types swimming across the screen using a virtual cannon or gun.—
Scott Butler,
Florida Times-Union,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Another was clinging to a floating gas can, and two others were swimming for the shore.—
Delbert L. Chears,
Outdoor Life,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Their outfits were deliberate, their conversations drifting loudly through the opening sets from TLF Trio and Tariq Al-Sabir.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Surviving and thriving for 150 years requires ongoing commitment, generosity, leadership and the unique ability to adapt repeatedly without drifting from or losing one’s core values.—
David Swanson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
With Luna gliding into your ever-practical 6th house, you may be tempted to ignore your inner needs in favor of getting as much done as possible.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2026
-
For Belinsky, the game still delivers the same rush — the feeling of gliding across the ice, the satisfaction of a clean shot, the bite of cold air filling his lungs.—
Panashe Matemba-Mutasa,
Mercury News,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Jones has played so well and has looked so poised, and the team has done such a solid job with him at the controls that there has been talk lately about a possible quarterback controversy brewing in the Bay Area.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Nov. 2025
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Here was the postwar American housewife—neatly dressed, pretty, poised, active—stepping unwittingly into a scene of utter depravity and sadism that reflected back at this wholesome young mother the darkest recesses of the human mind.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hovering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hovering. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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