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
On a warm Sunday afternoon, Shamim Popal hovers in the kitchen of her Middleburg, Virginia, home, making brunch for her family.
—
Liam Scott, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2026
The average for 3-point shooting, pro and college, hovers around 35%.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
The specter of October 7, 2023, hovers over the movie, as does the aftermath that’s left thousands more dead.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Mar. 2026
At Sabrina Garments, for example, absenteeism hovers at 1 percent, a rarity for Cambodia’s garment sector, managers said.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 26 Mar. 2026
This nightmare scenario hovers over all of baseball this year, and specifically over the Bronx, where the home team has claimed one championship in the last 25 years and none since 2009.
—Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Youth unemployment across much of the Arab world still hovers around 25%, among the highest rates globally.
—Frederic Wehrey, Time, 24 Mar. 2026
Judith’s twin brother, Hamnet (Ajani Cabey), hovers nearby, watching his sister’s suffering with growing alarm.
—Rhoda Feng, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
The friction between Space Florida and NASA hovers over the federal agency’s most ambitious mission in half a century — Artemis II, slated for takeoff next month.
—Katelyn Ferral, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Liam Scott, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2026
The average for 3-point shooting, pro and college, hovers around 35%.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
The specter of October 7, 2023, hovers over the movie, as does the aftermath that’s left thousands more dead.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Mar. 2026
At Sabrina Garments, for example, absenteeism hovers at 1 percent, a rarity for Cambodia’s garment sector, managers said.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 26 Mar. 2026
This nightmare scenario hovers over all of baseball this year, and specifically over the Bronx, where the home team has claimed one championship in the last 25 years and none since 2009.
—Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Youth unemployment across much of the Arab world still hovers around 25%, among the highest rates globally.
—Frederic Wehrey, Time, 24 Mar. 2026
Judith’s twin brother, Hamnet (Ajani Cabey), hovers nearby, watching his sister’s suffering with growing alarm.
—Rhoda Feng, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
The friction between Space Florida and NASA hovers over the federal agency’s most ambitious mission in half a century — Artemis II, slated for takeoff next month.
—Katelyn Ferral, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hovers
Verb
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But when Willy floats into a conversation with Ben or experiences a memory of Biff’s high-school glory days, golden light floods the stage through a high bank of dirty windows.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
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Yet the technology for wind power that floats is just emerging, and has never been attempted in waters as deep as the Pacific off Northern California.—
Deputy Managing Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Most tanker movement in the key Strait of Hormuz, where roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil typically sails past Iran’s coastline, remains at a halt.—
Camila Gomez,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
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Capasecca Yacht Another bespoke yachting experience, Capasecca — featuring four cabins that sleep up to eight guests — sails the Amalfi Coast, Capri, Ischia and Procida, backed by a family with generations of seafaring heritage.—
Elycia Rubin,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Meatloaf now swims in the aquarium’s sea turtle rehabilitation area, which opened in January.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
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The reigning Tri-Valley League MVP swims at Kingfish Swimming club.—
Tyler McManus,
Boston Herald,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As the inspirational Moon glides into your 7th House of Allies, your expressive nature invites connection, and your generous spirit lightens tough conversations.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Apr. 2026
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Furthermore, the formula wears seamlessly, sans pilling, beneath foundation, which glides on like silk.—
Sophie Wirt,
InStyle,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Wandering through the wash, the mind drifts not to the film but to the flash floods that move through this channel after heavy rains, sudden torrents cutting and reshaping the valley floor in a matter of hours.—
Josh Jackson,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
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Written by Mescudi, Doe explores themes of addiction and survival through the lens of a man living on the streets of Hollywood who, over the course of 24 hours, drifts through a series of encounters that pull him in and out of the cycles of his compulsion.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hovers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hovers. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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