hover

1 of 2

verb

hov·​er ˈhə-vər  ˈhä- 

hovered; hovering ˈhə-v(ə-)riŋ 

ˈhä-

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

1

a

: 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.

2

a

: 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.

hoverer

ˈhə-vər-ər 

ˈhä-

noun

hover

2 of 2

noun

plural hovers

: 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

Synonyms

Verb

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

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Prices on the ticket marketplace are hovering between $1,950 and $2,200 for the upper level. —Ehsan Kassim, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025

The average credit card interest rate has hovered over 20 percent for the past two years, according to data from the St. Louis Fed, with many Americans grappling with even higher rates. —Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025

Noun

Dalman’s pass-blocking efficiency hovers around the middle of NFL centers. —Alec Lewis, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025

By Maddy Savage January 18, 2025 8:00 AM EST A yellow crane hovers above a building site in Sickla, a former industrial neighbourhood that’s home to one of Stockholm’s biggest real estate projects. —Maddy Savage, TIME, 18 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English hoveren, frequentative of hoven to hover

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

1513, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

hover

verb

hov·​er ˈhəv-ər  ˈhäv- 

hovered; hovering -(ə-)riŋ 

1

a

: to hang fluttering in the air or on the wing

a bird hovered overhead

b

: to remain floating over a place or object

2

a

: to move to and fro near a place

waiters hovered about

b

: to be in an undecided or uncertain state

hovering between life and death

hover noun

hoverer

-ər-ər 

noun