as in to float
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air
claimed that the UFO hovered a moment, then spun off into space at incredible speed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hover
Brent crude, which cost roughly $73 a barrel at the start of the war and is now hovering at just over $100, could quickly surge to $150, risking a global recession.
—
Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
Hegseth's comment comes days after a video showed what appeared to be AH‑64 Apache helicopters hovering near the musician’s home, which triggered an Army review and reported suspension of the aircrew.
—Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Astronauts may also witness brief flashes from meteoroids striking the surface or faint clouds of dust hovering above the lunar horizon that are not very well understood, NASA says.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 1 Apr. 2026
In the clip shared on social media, Rock cheered as an Apache attack helicopter hovered by his pool, which featured a life-sized sculpture of the Statue of Liberty.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hover
Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
Hegseth's comment comes days after a video showed what appeared to be AH‑64 Apache helicopters hovering near the musician’s home, which triggered an Army review and reported suspension of the aircrew.
—Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Astronauts may also witness brief flashes from meteoroids striking the surface or faint clouds of dust hovering above the lunar horizon that are not very well understood, NASA says.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 1 Apr. 2026
In the clip shared on social media, Rock cheered as an Apache attack helicopter hovered by his pool, which featured a life-sized sculpture of the Statue of Liberty.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hover
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hover
Verb
-
Of all the voting changes floating around, what seems most likely at the moment is an end to or significant limit on counting mail-in ballots after Election Day.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
-
In the Dominican Republic, commercial fishers sometimes place a palm tree, floating upright and attached to a buoy, in the middle of the ocean.—
Mike Kurlansky,
Outside,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Valid for British Isles Explorer itineraries sailing in 2026 or 2027, or for another itinerary and extension of equal or lesser value—within the same stateroom category or lower—during the same period, if the itinerary and extension offered is not available.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Another bulk carrier, the Mac Hope, identifying itself as sailing under Chinese ownership and with a Chinese crew, also transited the strait on Monday, MarineTraffic data show.—
Lucia I Suarez Sang,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Oceanside Lifeguard Division urged the public to use caution when entering the ocean, particularly when lifeguards are not on duty, and to avoid swimming alone.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The whale then swam through it overnight, marine biologist Robert Marc Lehmann said Friday, German news agency dpa reported.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
From the world’s vantage point, Los Angeles can look like a place that glides serenely along beneath a beatific sun.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
-
And the crowd stayed to watch as six hundred young skiers—many of whom were little girls, with glitter on their cheeks—glided around the ski track in the stadium and then stood there in a phalanx, an honor guard as Diggins took a ceremonial last lap.—
Bill McKibben,
New Yorker,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Wait a few hundred-thousand years, and another star will drift into our Oort cloud, perturbing it and potentially triggering new comets arriving in our inner Solar System.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Even college football is drifting toward a more fragmented, paywalled future.—
Maxwell Adler,
Vanity Fair,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hover.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hover. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
