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
Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 16 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
Temperatures throughout the region are expected to top 100 degrees Saturday, with warm lows hovering in the mid-70s in some locations.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
He has been protected and nurtured at Leicester, but with Arsenal and others hovering, that journey is likely to continue elsewhere next season.
—Rob Tanner, New York Times, 12 June 2026
Nahant Beach saw another jump to 95% after hovering around 80% for the previous four years, the report stated.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 9 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
Given that the average credit card APR is hovering above 21% right now, even modest balances can become expensive to carry over time.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 16 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
Temperatures throughout the region are expected to top 100 degrees Saturday, with warm lows hovering in the mid-70s in some locations.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
He has been protected and nurtured at Leicester, but with Arsenal and others hovering, that journey is likely to continue elsewhere next season.
—Rob Tanner, New York Times, 12 June 2026
Nahant Beach saw another jump to 95% after hovering around 80% for the previous four years, the report stated.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 9 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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During the low tide and full moon, most of the vessels don't go sailing.—
Nicole F. Roberts,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
-
As of June 10, the cheapest fare available on any cruise was $187 per person, based on double occupancy, for a three-day voyage to the line’s exclusive destination on Grand Bahama, Celebration Key, sailing round-trip from Miami aboard Carnival Conquest.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
12 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
-
In April, Stephen Woods’ son-in-law, Ryan Jennings, was swimming with his two oldest children while on a family vacation in Florida when a rip current dragged them out.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
-
An Australian lifeguard helped rescue a woman who was critically injured by a white shark while swimming off a popular Sydney beach on Saturday.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
This means there are never any strangers drifting past your breakfast table or competing for loungers.—
Arion McNicoll,
TheWeek,
15 June 2026
-
Keeping his thoughts from drifting too much, even about Cuba, has propelled his career forward.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hovering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hovering. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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