as in floats
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 hovers
Mark Bezos—Jeff’s brother—hovers around the bar.
—
Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 June 2026
Astrology, a pursuit that hovers in the nebulous space between science and storytelling, is not exactly a robust academic field, and LaFaive had no scholarly studies of Goodman’s life or work to consult.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
The secondary market for the first New York home game hovers around $4,000 and up for one seat on multiple sites including Gametime and Vivid Seats.
—Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 1 June 2026
When the number of people who die in the hospital are exactly those that were expected to die, the ratio hovers around one.
—Jessica Bartlett — Boston Globe, STAT, 21 May 2026
Average annual income hovers around $58,000, reflecting a shortage of high-wage opportunities.
—Linh Tat, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
Towing capacity hovers around 6,500 pounds (2,948 kg), depending on configuration.
—New Atlas, 3 May 2026
Today, the population hovers around 2,000, but there’s enough art, food, and quirk for a city many times that size.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2026
Anything below 50% favorability portends political trouble; right now Trump’s positive standing in polls hovers around a dismal 40%.
—Mark Barabak, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 June 2026
Astrology, a pursuit that hovers in the nebulous space between science and storytelling, is not exactly a robust academic field, and LaFaive had no scholarly studies of Goodman’s life or work to consult.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
The secondary market for the first New York home game hovers around $4,000 and up for one seat on multiple sites including Gametime and Vivid Seats.
—Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 1 June 2026
When the number of people who die in the hospital are exactly those that were expected to die, the ratio hovers around one.
—Jessica Bartlett — Boston Globe, STAT, 21 May 2026
Average annual income hovers around $58,000, reflecting a shortage of high-wage opportunities.
—Linh Tat, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
Towing capacity hovers around 6,500 pounds (2,948 kg), depending on configuration.
—New Atlas, 3 May 2026
Today, the population hovers around 2,000, but there’s enough art, food, and quirk for a city many times that size.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2026
Anything below 50% favorability portends political trouble; right now Trump’s positive standing in polls hovers around a dismal 40%.
—Mark Barabak, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hovers
Verb
-
Elon Musk reportedly floats SpaceX, Tesla merger Elon Musk has reportedly discussed merging SpaceX with Tesla, a deal that would give the world’s richest person even more control over his sprawling tech empire.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
29 May 2026
-
Connor McDavid almost floats above the ice, faster than anyone in the sport’s history.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
The crude oil tanker Idemitsu Maru sails through Ise Bay near Chita City in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, May 25, 2026, after becoming the first crude tanker bound for Japan to transit the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran war.—
Mark Osborne,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
-
The neutrino is a nearly weightless particle that sails through matter like a phantasm.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Speaking in a new interview with Today, published Wednesday, May 27, Michigan resident Betty Morris, who turned 101 on May 13 and still drives and swims daily, revealed her top four tips for longevity.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
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Even Jason Momoa swims in, but in a non-Aquaman role.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
23 May 2026
Verb
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In the warmer months, don’t skip a ride on The Morgan, Sagamore’s cruising vessel that glides around Lake George.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
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With a blend of peptides, olive oil, and vitamin E, this pencil glides on without any dragging or pilling.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Smoke from the front burners has farther to travel, and a lot of it drifts sideways into the kitchen before the hood can catch it.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
3 June 2026
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The smell of simmering garlic and tomatoes drifts through the casual dining rooms where families gather around crowded tables.—
Eva Remijan-Toba,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hovers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hovers. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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