hug

1 of 2

verb

ˈhəg 

hugged; hugging; hugs

1

a

transitive + intransitive : to press (someone) tightly in one's arms especially as a sign of affection

They hugged each other before saying goodbye.

We hugged briefly.

b

transitive : to hold (something) tightly with the arms

She hugged her knees to her chest.

c

transitive : to wrap one's arms around (oneself)

She was wearing only a wraparound denim skirt over her black bathing suit, and in the chill of approaching evening was hugging herself.

—John Updike

(figurative) Jerome looked puzzled, or pretended to. In reality he was hugging himself with delight.

—Lucy Maud Montgomery

2

transitive : to stay close to (something)

a road that hugs the river

a boat hugging the shore

clothes that hug your body's curves [=tight-fitting clothes]

3

transitive : to hold (something) fast : cherish

… hugged his miseries like a sulky child

—John Buchan

huggable

ˈhə-gə-bəl 

adjective

… whenever you get a chance at a reunion to hug someone who looks huggable, do it.

—Mike Deupree

hugger noun

plural huggers

Senior is restrained, the sort of man you lean close to, to hear. Junior is a hugger and kisser, buoyant, vibrant, colorful.

—Rick Reilly

hug

2 of 2

noun

plural hugs

: a close embrace with the arms especially as a sign of affection

She gave me a hug.

hugs and kisses

"He was very, very compassionate. Very loving. He always gave you a hug hello and a hug goodbye."

—The Salt Lake Tribune

Peggotty was not slow to respond, and ratify the treaty of friendship by giving me one of her best hugs.

—Charles Dickens

Synonyms

Verb

• compliment
• congratulate
• felicitate

Examples of hug in a Sentence

Verb

We hugged briefly, and then it was time to say goodbye.

I hugged my knees to my chest.

The road hugs the river.

The boat hugged the shore.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

There is a shot of her in a blue ballgown, hugging a group of people, which is possibly from her final day of shooting the two films earlier this year. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 31 Dec. 2024

Six in 10 respondents had experienced unwanted and/or inappropriate touching, hugging or kissing from colleagues. —Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Dec. 2024

Noun

To wit, a New York Times article from 1893 notes the earliest documentation of the tradition in New York City, where German immigrants would gather among one another for the New Year over food and drinks and spread kisses and hugs throughout the crowds. —Gia Yetikyel, Vogue, 31 Dec. 2024

In New Zealand, loitering in the car park drop-off zone was the concern, as one airport took the step of introducing a time limit on hugs. —Cnn, The Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse hugga to soothe

First Known Use

Verb

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1659, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hug

• bear hug
• hug-me-tight
• hug the shore

Kids Definition

hug

verb

ˈhəg 

hugged; hugging

1

: to press tightly especially in the arms : embrace

2

: to stay close to

drives along hugging the curb

hug noun