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hover

verb
hov·​er | \ ˈhÉ™-vÉ™r How to pronounce hover (audio) , ˈhä- How to pronounce hover (audio) \
hovered; hovering\ ˈhÉ™-​v(É™-​)riÅ‹ How to pronounce hovering (audio) , ˈhä-​ \

Definition of hover

 (Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

: to position (a computer cursor) over something (such as an image or icon) without selecting it Many in the class hovered their cursors over words and icons for long periods before committing to clicking their mouse.— Kelly Heyboer

intransitive verb

1a : to hang fluttering in the air or on the wing A hawk hovered overhead.
b : to remain suspended over a place or object a hummingbird hovering over the flowers Helicopters hovered above us.
2a : to move to and fro near a place : fluctuate around a given point Unemployment hovered around 10 percent.
b : to be in a state of uncertainty, irresolution, or suspense … hovering uncomfortably behind a cigar …— Tennessee Williams The country hovers on the brink of famine.

hover

noun
plural hovers

Definition of hover (Entry 2 of 2)

: the act or state of hovering in the air Ospreys were most successful hunting from a hover and spent more of their hunting time doing it that way.— John P. Wiley Jr. After a careful check outside to ensure that his flight path was clear, one of the pilots lifted his helicopter to a hover, then maneuvered to the middle of the valley.— Breck Henderson
Other Words from hover Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about hover

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Other Words from hover

Verb

hoverer \ ˈhÉ™-​vÉ™r-​É™r How to pronounce hoverer (audio) , ˈhä-​ \ noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for hover

Synonyms: Verb

drift, float, glide, hang, poise, ride, sail, swim, waft

Antonyms: Verb

settle, sink

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Examples of hover in a Sentence

Verb

 Watch as the hummingbird hovers over the flowers. Bees hovered around the hive. Waiters hovered near our table. nervous mothers hovering over their children Unemployment rates were hovering around 10 percent. Temperatures will continue to hover around freezing. The patient was hovering between life and death. The country hovers on the brink of famine.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

 Mortgage rates are hovering at historic lows, and the aisles of Home Depot are bustling with homeowners. — Washington Post, "Execs starting to worry about tariffs’ effects on consumers," 20 Aug. 2019 The average rate on the benchmark 30-year loan is hovering at 3.60%, its lowest level since late 2016. — Michelle Chapman, chicagotribune.com, "Home Depot cuts outlook citing China tariffs, lumber prices," 20 Aug. 2019 On the one hand, unemployment is hovering at its lowest point since 1969, and there's lots of hiring going on. — Anne Fisher, Fortune, "Lost Your Job? Here’s What to Tell Interviewers," 8 Aug. 2019 The unemployment rate is hovering around its lowest level in 50 years, but that has yet to push wages drastically higher in a way that forces companies to lift prices more quickly. — Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, "Fed Cuts Interest Rates for First Time Since 2008 Crisis," 31 July 2019 For African Americans, unemployment is hovering around 6–7 percent, the lowest numbers on record. — Robert Verbruggen, National Review, "The Trump Economy," 25 July 2019 The company’s stock market value is hovering again near that symbolic $1-trillion level. — Shira Ovide, latimes.com, "Amazon tries to prove it’s not a Dickensian workhouse," 11 July 2019 Around a decade ago, Margolis says, solar efficiency was hovering around 13 percent. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "How Solar Panels Work (And Why They're Taking Over the World)," 6 July 2019 Its shares are hovering near all-time lows, and high-profile departures are picking up. — Jenny Strasburg, WSJ, "Deutsche Bank’s Equities Chief Expected to Leave Amid Planned Overhaul," 25 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hover.' 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 hover

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1513, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for hover

Verb

Middle English hoveren, frequentative of hoven to hover

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More Definitions for hover

hover

verb
How to pronounce hover (audio) How to pronounce hover (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of hover

: to float in the air without moving in any direction
: to stay very close to a person or place
: to stay near a specified point or level

See the full definition for hover in the English Language Learners Dictionary

hover

verb
hov·​er | \ ˈhÉ™-vÉ™r How to pronounce hover (audio) , ˈhä-\
hovered; hovering

Kids Definition of hover

1 : to fly or float in the air without moving far in any direction Bees hovered around the hive.
2 : to stay near a place And Lockhart was hovering around all of them, making suggestions.— J. K. Rowling, Chamber of Secrets

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