hog

1 of 2

noun

ˈhȯg 

ˈhäg

plural hogs also hog

1

a

: a domesticated swine especially when weighing more than 120 pounds (54 kilograms) compare pig sense 1a

b

: any of various animals related to the domesticated swine

2

usually hogg British : a young unshorn sheep

also : wool from such a sheep

3

a

: a selfish, gluttonous, or filthy person

b

: one that uses something to excess

old cars that are gas hogs

hog

2 of 2

verb

hogged; hogging

transitive verb

1

: to cut (a horse's mane) short : roach

2

: to cause to arch

3

: to take in excess of one's due

hog the credit

4

: to tear up or shred (some material, such as waste wood) into bits by machine

intransitive verb

: to become curved upward in the middle

—used of a ship's bottom or keel

Synonyms

Noun

• cormorant
• glutton
• gorger
• gormandizer
• gourmand
• overeater
• pig
• stuffer
• swiller

Examples of hog in a Sentence

Noun

Don't be such a hog! Other people have to eat too!

The new software is a real memory hog.

Verb

He's been hogging the remote control all night.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In mid to late November, place a cylinder made from chicken or hog wire around the plant. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2024

Thousands of hogs died in that event as well, the watchdog group said. —Tatiana Tenreyro, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Dec. 2024

Verb

History’s greatest magnet is luring capital from every corner of the globe, hogging wealth needed to finance budget deficits, keep bond yields stable and support equity markets. —William Pesek, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025

Sutherland keeps us guessing, while establishing one of the more heartening qualities of his career: a general disinterest in hogging the spotlight and a willingness to cede it to his female co-stars. —A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 25 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English hogge, from Old English hogg

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1769, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing hog

• go hog wild
• go (the) whole hog
• high off the hog
• high on the hog
• hog cholera
• hog heaven
• hog score
• hog sucker
• hog-tie
• hog wild
• road hog
• whole hog

Kids Definition

hog

1 of 2 noun

ˈhȯg 

ˈhäg

plural hogs also hog

1

a

: a domesticated swine especially when weighing more than 120 pounds (54 kilograms) compare pig sense 1a

b

: any of various animals related to the domesticated swine

2

: a selfish, greedy, or filthy person

hoggish

ˈhȯg-ish

ˈhäg-

adjective

hoggishly adverb

hoggishness noun

hog

2 of 2 verb

hogged; hogging

: to take more than one's share