1
: the central part of a circular object (such as a wheel or propeller)
spokes attached to the hub of the wheel
2
a
: a center of activity : focal point
The island is a major tourist hub.
b
: an airport or city through which an airline routes most of its traffic
c
: a central device that connects multiple computers on a single network (see network entry 1 sense 3b)
3
: a steel punch from which a working die (see die entry 2 sense 3a) for a coin or medal is made

Example Sentences

the hub of the city She was at the hub of all the activity. All of the airline's coast-to-coast flights pass through its hub. The spokes attach to the hub of the wheel.
Recent Examples on the Web Pet Care 101:USA Today's hub for all the best pet care tips Do dogs smile?:Absolutely. Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2023 Then in March, the virus began spreading in Shanghai, China’s cosmopolitan finance hub. Dake Kang, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Mar. 2023 Based in troubled tech hub Silicon Valley like SVB, First Republic is the nation’s 14th largest lender. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 21 Mar. 2023 Using your phone as a WiFi hub chugs through data and your battery, you might be charged extra and the phone company may slow down your connection. Shira Ovide, Anchorage Daily News, 20 Mar. 2023 Boasting a lightweight aluminum alloy frame, ebii weighs 35 pounds, with a single-side hub motor. Stephanie Mlot, PCMAG, 20 Mar. 2023 Even the former Spring-break hub intersection of Sixth Street and Red River was a ghost town on Friday night, and lines to get into showcases across town were essentially nonexistent. Jem Aswad, Variety, 20 Mar. 2023 Hertz is also building a new fast-charging hub at the Houston Hobby Airport. Sebastian Blanco, Car and Driver, 18 Mar. 2023 Transportation Department rolls out family seating dashboard for air travel 03:22 If U.S. airports get no respect, at least one flight hub formerly regarded as the nation's worst airport is now distinguishing itself: New York's LaGuardia Airport. Elizabeth Napolitano, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hub.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

probably alteration of hob entry 2

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hub was in 1649

Dictionary Entries Near hub

Cite this Entry

“Hub.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hub. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

hub

noun
1
: the central part of a circular object (as a wheel)
2
: a center of activity

Medical Definition

hub

noun
: the enlarged base by which a hollow needle may be attached to a device (as a syringe)

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