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

Examples of hub in a Sentence

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 The streaming hub will offer more than 5,000 hours of live coverage, including 329 medal events. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 20 Mar. 2024 Flatt’s was an important port and a bustling hub of shipbuilding and commerce. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 19 Mar. 2024 Business and legal groups say the law, in its vagueness, will detract from the city’s appeal as a financial hub safe for investment. Lily Kuo, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2024 However, for those who value Hong Kong’s once-vibrant political culture and commitment to openness, the legislation exacerbates fears of dwindling Western-style civil liberties that are fundamental to its allure as a global financial hub. Kanis Leung, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Mar. 2024 That could include building pathways over or under the elevated Caltrain tracks and adjacent Highway 101 corridor to better connect the downtown area to the city’s job center and biotech hub in its former industrial core to the east. Ethan Varian, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024 The country, which is a manufacturing hub for several automakers, has experienced a labor shortage in recent years as its workers migrate to western Europe. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2024 For months, lines of trucks bound for Gaza have been backed up along the highway leading from the Egyptian town of Arish, a major logistical hub for aid, to the Rafah crossing. Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024 In Georgia, large new manufacturing hubs are looking to hook into the grid. Brad Plumer, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hub.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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. 2024.

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)

More from Merriam-Webster on hub

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