hook

1 of 2

noun

ˈhu̇k 

1

a

: a curved or bent device for catching, holding, or pulling

b

: something intended to attract and ensnare

c

: anchor sense 1

2

: something curved or bent like a hook

especially, hooks plural : fingers

3

: a flight or course of a ball that deviates from straight in a direction opposite to the dominant hand of the player propelling it

also : a ball following such a course compare slice

4

: a short blow delivered with a circular motion by a boxer while the elbow remains bent and rigid

5

: hook shot

6

: buttonhook

7

: quick or summary removal

—used with get or give

the pitcher got the hook after giving up three runs

8

: a device especially in music or writing that catches the attention

9

: a selling point or marketing scheme

10

: cradle sense 1b(2)

hook

2 of 2

verb

hooked; hooking; hooks

transitive verb

1

: to form into a hook : crook

2

a

: to seize or make fast by or as if by a hook

b

: to connect by or as if by a hook

It … comes with a detachable carabiner for hooking it to whatever you want …

—Tyler Lacoma

Fortunately, it isn't hard to hook your computer to your TV.

—Kim Comando

—often used with up

We didn't have the opportunity to hook up a trailer, so we can't comment on braking under serious load.

—Jeremy Korzeniewski

It lets you hook up your phone to a bigger screen and use a mouse and keyboard.

—Joanna Stern

3

: steal, pilfer

4

: to make (something, such as a rug) by drawing loops of yarn, thread, or cloth through a coarse fabric with a hook

5

: to hit or throw (a ball) so that a hook results

intransitive verb

1

: to form a hook : curve

2

: to become hooked

3

: to work as a sex worker

Phrases

by hook or by crook

: by any means

off the hook

1

: out of trouble

2

: free of responsibility or accountability

on one's own hook

: by oneself : independently

Synonyms

Noun

• bang
• bash
• bat
• beat
• belt
• biff
• blow
• bop
• box
• buffet
• bust
• chop
• clap
• clip
• clout
• crack
• cuff
• dab
• douse [British]
• fillip
• hack
• haymaker
• hit
• knock
• larrup [dialect]
• lash
• lick
• pelt
• pick
• plump
• poke
• pound
• punch
• rap
• slam
• slap
• slug
• smack
• smash
• sock
• spank
• stinger
• stripe
• stroke
• swat
• swipe
• switch
• thud
• thump
• thwack
• wallop
• welt
• whack
• wham
• whop
• whap

Verb

• arch
• bend
• bow
• crook
• curve
• swerve

Examples of hook in a Sentence

Noun

She hit a hook into the left rough.

He threw a right hook to his opponent's body.

Verb

The train cars were hooked together.

My sweater was hooked on a branch.

I hooked the door shut.

The dress hooks in the back.

The two parts hooked together.

He hooked a large fish.

He hooked his arm around my neck.

She hooked her fingers around the doorknob.

He hooked his thumb through a loop of his pants.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Tangent Jones is on the hook to pay $1.48 billion in damages to the families of the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting victims, after using his shows to spread false claims about the incident. —Siladitya Ray, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024

Health insurance costs are far outpacing inflation, leaving more consumers on the hook each year for thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses. —Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2024

Verb

Of course people got hooked: More excitement and no effort equaled a better future. —Todd Eckert, WIRED, 8 Dec. 2024

Seething with anger, Thibodeau hooks Sims after six first-quarter minutes and benches him for the night. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 8 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hōc; akin to Middle Dutch hoec fishhook, corner, Lithuanian kengė hook

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing hook

• boat hook
• cant hook
• duck hook
• gang hook
• get the hook
• give (someone) the hook
• grappling hook
• hook and eye
• hook and ladder truck
• hook check
• hook into
• hook, line and sinker
• hook shot
• hook up
• jump hook
• let (someone) off the hook
• mouth hook
• on the hook for
• pruning hook
• ring off the hook
• sling one's hook
• tail hook

Kids Definition

hook

1 of 2 noun

ˈhu̇k 

1

: a curved or bent tool for catching, holding, or pulling

2

: something curved or bent

3

: the flight of a ball curving to the left when hit or thrown by a right-hander or to the right when hit or thrown by a left-hander

4

: a short sweeping punch made with the elbow bent

5

: cradle entry 1 sense 6

left the phone off the hook

hook

2 of 2 verb

1

: to form into a hook : crook, curve

2

a

: to seize, make fast, or connect by or as if by a hook

b

: to become secured or connected by or as if by a hook

3

: pilfer, steal

4

: to make by drawing loops of thread, yarn, or cloth through a coarse fabric with a hook

hook a rug

5

: to hit or throw a ball so that a hook results

Medical Definition

hook

noun

ˈhu̇k 

1

: an instrument used in surgery to take hold of tissue

a crypt hook

a cordotomy hook

2

: an anatomical part that resembles a hook