1 hobnob | Definition of hobnob

hobnob

verb
hob·​nob | \ ˈhäb-ËŒnäb How to pronounce hobnob (audio) \
hobnobbed; hobnobbing

Definition of hobnob

intransitive verb

1 archaic : to drink sociably
2 : to associate familiarly

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Other Words from hobnob

hobnobber noun

Hobnob and Shakespeare

Hob and nob first came together in print in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, when Sir Toby Belch warns Viola (who is disguised as a man) that Sir Andrew wants to duel. "Hob, nob is his word," says Sir Toby, using hob and nob to mean something like "hit or miss." Sir Toby's words are probably from the term habnab (also styled as a phrase: hab or nab), which meant "in one way or another" or "however it may turn out." After Shakespeare's day, hob and nob became established in the phrase to drink hobnob (also styled as to drink hob or nob), which meant "to drink alternately to each other." Since "drinking hobnob" was generally done among friends, hobnob came to refer to congenial social interaction.

Examples of hobnob in a Sentence

He loves to hobnob with celebrities. those two have been hobnobbing together since freshman year

Recent Examples on the Web

Richardson only showed up once that the students were aware of, to publicly hobnob with Queen Noor of Jordan and Greece’s Prince Pavlos in advance of his gubernatorial run. Matt Farwell, The New Republic, "Jeffrey Epstein Chose New Mexico for a Reason," 15 Aug. 2019 Jeffrey Epstein has hobnobbed with some of the world's most powerful people during his jet-setting life. CBS News, "Labor Secretary Alex Acosta under new scrutiny after Epstein arrest," 9 July 2019 In the film, the couple is shown hobnobbing with the stars of late 1960s Hollywood, including actor Steve McQueen (Damian Lewis) and singer Mama Cass (Rachel Redleaf). Alejandro De La Garza, Time, "The True Story Behind Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood," 26 July 2019 Epstein's arrest sent shockwaves through the political sphere, since the financier had hobnobbed with the political elite, including Trump and Bill Clinton, for years. Aj Willingham, CNN, "5 things to know for July 26: Death penalty, Jeffrey Epstein, Equifax," 26 July 2019 Jeffrey Epstein has hobnobbed with some of the world's most powerful people during his jet-setting life. CBS News, "Labor Secretary Alex Acosta under new scrutiny after Epstein arrest," 9 July 2019 Jeffrey Epstein has hobnobbed with some of the world's most powerful people during his jet-setting life. Jill Colvin, sun-sentinel.com, "What did Jeffrey Epstein’s famous friends know and see?," 8 July 2019 Jeffrey Epstein has hobnobbed with some of the world's most powerful people during his jet-setting life. Jill Colvin, chicagotribune.com, "What did they know and see? Charges likely to bring scrutiny on Jeffrey Epstein’s famous friends.," 8 July 2019 If yesterday’s ruling class clutched its pearls at the sight of outcasts hobnobbing in their favorite spots, today’s has become accustomed to a crew of villains who might as well have strutted straight from perp walk to Per Se. Horacio Silva, Town & Country, "What to Do When You Find Yourself at Dinner With a Social Pariah," 15 May 2019

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

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First Known Use of hobnob

1813, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for hobnob

from the obsolete phrase drink hobnob to drink alternately to one another

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More Definitions for hobnob

hobnob

verb

English Language Learners Definition of hobnob

: to spend time with someone (such as a famous or wealthy person) in a friendly way

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More from Merriam-Webster on hobnob

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with hobnob

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hobnob

Spanish Central: Translation of hobnob

Nglish: Translation of hobnob for Spanish Speakers