hover

verb

ˈhə-vər How to pronounce hover (audio)
Definition of hovernext
as in to float
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hover Whether drivers will ever legally hover over morning traffic jams remains an open question. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026 The band hovers in a razor-thin lacuna between heaven and hell, between ascension and purgatory, on the verge of going either way. — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026 The next-generation Roadster is expected to be a high-end, low-volume model that relies on SpaceX technology to enable it to hover. — Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026 The lower half of the country is primarily expected to see temperatures hover around, or potentially just below, normal, with the outlook predicting near-normal temperatures across portions of the Southeast, including Florida. — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hover
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hover
  1. float
  2. sail
  3. swim
  4. glide
  5. drift
Verb
  • Later, or earlier, the square reflection of a fluorescent light against the window resembles a rectangular moon floating in a clear blue sky.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 12 Oct. 2026
  • With the false color, the vegetation surrounding the salt pan appears in shades of red, while the salt pan itself looks like a mix of bright, light and dark blues with cloudy sediment floating around.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of float
Verb
  • Launched last year, Louis Vuitton’s multiyear partnership with Real Madrid marked yet another high-profile sports deal for the world’s biggest luxury brand, which is active in disciplines ranging from sailing to Formula 1.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Henderson picked it up and sailed a throw to first, allowing the tying run to score.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of sail
Verb
  • It’s estimated about 25% of the sunscreen people apply to their skin washes off while swimming or wading in the ocean.
    — Matthew Perrone, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Other marine mammals, such as harbor seals, have also been known to swim into the Delta.
    — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of swim
Verb
  • With a pair of real horns, one of them plays the bull by gliding toward the fuchsia bullfighting cape.
    — Eyder Peralta, NPR, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Xerf uses dual-frequency energy administered through a patented device that glides across the skin.
    — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of glide
Verb
  • The autumn sun is drifting southward and the angle of shadows is shifting.
    — Dana Kelley, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
  • His attention drifts towards intimate details – the bare armpit, the small hollow at the base of Rafael’s neck – and the music follows him into this increasingly private, almost obsessive fascination.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of drift

Phrases Containing hover

Browse Nearby Words

hovels
hover
hovercraft
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Cite this Entry

“Hover.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hover. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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