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
Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2025
To the north, Canada also slipped down the ladder but remains well ahead of the US, coming in at 18 after hovering around 15 for the last few years.
—New Atlas, 21 Mar. 2025
Rain is possible next week, but chances are only hovering between 20% and 40% on Monday and Tuesday.
—Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2025
The average rate on the 30-year mortgage is now hovering near 7%, per Freddie Mac.
—Sami Sparber, Axios, 19 Mar. 2025
Bernie leans in, hovering over her son.
—Alex Ross, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025
That’s happening, at least in part, because insurers continue to update their risk models, which may capture more reasons — sometimes from a drone hovering above — to hike rates on an individual property.
—Ron Lieber, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2025
Experts expect mortgage rates to continue hovering between 6 and 7 percent in 2025 and 2026, eroding the purchasing power of aspiring homebuyers.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
The average tax refund in 2024 is hovering around $3,100 according to IRS data and this is money that could jumpstart your savings or help pay down debt.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 10 Mar. 2025
Verb
The chance for precipitation is hovering around 60% as of Saturday morning and rainfall amounts are expected to reach between a tenth and quarter of an inch, the forecast shows.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2025
To the north, Canada also slipped down the ladder but remains well ahead of the US, coming in at 18 after hovering around 15 for the last few years.
—New Atlas, 21 Mar. 2025
Rain is possible next week, but chances are only hovering between 20% and 40% on Monday and Tuesday.
—Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2025
The average rate on the 30-year mortgage is now hovering near 7%, per Freddie Mac.
—Sami Sparber, Axios, 19 Mar. 2025
Bernie leans in, hovering over her son.
—Alex Ross, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025
That’s happening, at least in part, because insurers continue to update their risk models, which may capture more reasons — sometimes from a drone hovering above — to hike rates on an individual property.
—Ron Lieber, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2025
Experts expect mortgage rates to continue hovering between 6 and 7 percent in 2025 and 2026, eroding the purchasing power of aspiring homebuyers.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
The average tax refund in 2024 is hovering around $3,100 according to IRS data and this is money that could jumpstart your savings or help pay down debt.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 10 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hovering
Verb
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Don’t really care about awards, but sense some irony or hypocrisy floating around.—
Scott Powers,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
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Within the past few days, San Francisco Bay has also seen an increase in sightings of dead gray whales, beginning with a female gray whale that was first reported floating near Alcatraz Island on March 29.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
11 Apr. 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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Whetstone sharpening involves soaking a low-to-high grit stone in water and gliding a dull blade up and down it at an angle, removing steel to create a sharp edge.—
Ahmed Ali Akbar,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2025
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With Neptune gliding through your third house of communication, learning and mental processes, everything from your thoughts to the dynamics of your inner circles will undergo a subtle but powerful transformation.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
30 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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According to these arbiters, there is a correct way to react when your husband achieves a lifetime dream, and Stoll’s poised and somewhat reserved response was far from it.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
17 Apr. 2025
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Now Washington’s franchise player, Daniels had one of the most poised and productive rookie seasons in NFL history.—
Nick Baumgardner,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hovering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hovering. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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