hug
Americanverb (used with object)
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hugs,
present (3rd person singular)
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hugged,
past participle, past
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hugging
present participle
-
to clasp tightly in the arms, especially with affection; embrace.
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to cling firmly or fondly to; cherish.
to hug an opinion.
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to keep close to, as in sailing, walking, or in moving along or alongside of.
to hug the shore;
to hug the road.
verb (used without object)
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hugs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
hugged,
past participle, past
-
hugging
present participle
noun
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hugs
plural
verb
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(also intr) to clasp (another person or thing) tightly or (of two people) to cling close together; embrace
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to keep close to a shore, kerb, etc
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to cling to (beliefs, etc); cherish
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to congratulate (oneself); be delighted with (oneself)
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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hugsimple
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hugssimple
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have huggedperfect
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has huggedperfect
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am huggingprogressive
-
are huggingprogressive
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is huggingprogressive
-
have been huggingperfect progressive
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has been huggingperfect progressive
Past
-
huggedsimple
-
had huggedperfect
-
was huggingprogressive
-
were huggingprogressive
-
had been huggingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of hug
First recorded in 1560–70; perhaps from Old Norse hugga “to soothe, console”; akin to Old English hogian “to care for”
Explanation
To hug someone is to warmly embrace or grasp them with your arms. Some families hug each other all the time, while others save their hugs for special occasions. Celebrate National Hug Your Cat Day if you want to, but your cat may be less enthusiastic about it than you are. Hug is both a verb and a noun: when you hug your cat, she gets a hug. You can also hug your knees, holding them close to your body, and your skinny jeans can be said to hug your legs, or fit tightly. Hug probably comes from the Old Norse hugga, "to comfort."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“I go to give him a hug and he’s like, ‘Oh, you just took an Uber.’”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
Reddington, looking upset, could be seen consoling his client, holding her in a side hug and rubbing her back as journalists left court.
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
Multiple parents recounted a Christmas photo-op in which an ICE agent dressed as Santa Claus shoved away children who tried to hug him, then vanished with his treats the moment the cameras disappeared.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
The brighter streaks that hug the crater's rim were fresh material excavated from deeper underground.
From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026
She leans over, wrapping me in a bear hug.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
Utopia exists between the care and the kisses and the how you doin’s, it becomes flesh and bone in the embrace of full body hugs and smiles so wide they could devour the sun.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
Last summer, a record 23 cargo ships transited the Northern Sea Route, which hugs Russia’s north coast.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
After imposing an effective blockade on the strait, Iran has insisted ships take a route that hugs the Iranian coast.
From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026
Eight-time British national champion Lucy Campbell wrote: "The world is going to miss that smile so much. Sending my love and hugs to you all."
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
Mr. Retro approaches Dad with careful steps, then hugs Dad tightly.
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
On Sphere’s escalators, grey-bearded lifers hugged in shredded battle jackets; tween girls in “Master of Puppets” hoodies drummed along to every fill; accents came from eastern Europe, Latin America and all the world over.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026
Roses are placed on the tables where supporters nibbled from snack plates, hugged, all smiles, and sipped from glasses of sparkling wine or beer.
From Barron's ● Sep. 13, 2026
"I just want to say you've changed my life, I wouldn't be where I am without you," said Sam, as he hugged Ms Meek.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
She rode camels in Egypt, cruised the Nile River and hugged the pillars at Stonehenge.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
But I hugged and kissed them all over—our girls were alive!
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
As he spoke, mothers in the back rows swayed from side to side, hugging exhausted toddlers who had missed nap time.
From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026
On better days, she strolled up to it, even hugging its jagged trunk and inhaling the earthy scent to lift her spirits.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
The U.S. military has provided some protection to tankers moving through the strait hugging Oman’s coast, and ship-to-ship transfers have been a growing way to get crude flowing out of the Middle East again.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026
Betr isn’t counting on hugging it out with Ellin, responding in part, “We appreciate Doug watching the ad and helping promote it.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
I sat up in bed, hugging my knees to my chest as I peered at her in the darkness.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
