hobnob

American  

[hob-nob] / ˈhɒbˌnɒb /

verb (used without object)

hobnobs, present (3rd person singular) hobnobbed, past participle, past hobnobbing present participle

1. to associate on very friendly terms (usually followed bywith ).

   She often hobnobs with royalty.

2. Archaic. to drink together.

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noun

1. a friendly, informal chat.

hobnob British  

/ ˈhɒbˌnɒb /

verb

1. to socialize or talk informally

2. obsolete to drink (with)

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Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have hobnobbed
  perfect
• has hobnobbed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• is hobnobbing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• are hobnobbing
  progressive
• hobnobbing
  participle
• hobnobs
  singular 3rd person
• am hobnobbing
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been hobnobbing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• have been hobnobbing
  perfect progressive

Past

• had hobnobbed
  perfect
• were hobnobbing
  progressive plural
• hobnobbed
  simple
• was hobnobbing
  progressive singular
• had been hobnobbing
  perfect progressive
• hobnobbed
  participle

Future

• will hobnob
  simple
• will have hobnobbed
  perfect
• will have been hobnobbing
  perfect progressive
• will be hobnobbing
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of hobnob

First recorded in 1825–30 in the sense “hit or miss; at random”; from the phrase hab or nab literally, “have or have not,” from Middle English habbe or nabbe, Old English habban “to have” + nabbn “not to have” (from ne “not” + habban “to have”)

Explanation

To hobnob is to spend time or hang out with someone, especially at a social event. When you're invited to a fancy benefit party at a museum, you might get to hobnob with socialites and minor celebrities. When you hobnob, you mingle or pal around with fancy folks. People who work in book publishing occasionally get to hobnob with writers, and if you get a job on a movie set, you may have a chance to hobnob with movie stars. Hobnob first meant "to drink to one another," or "to toast each other." In Britain, a HobNob is also a popular cookie or biscuit brand.

Example Sentences

Western investors keen to make a buck in Russia's chaotic and fast-growing economy would gather to strike deals and hobnob with the Russian elite in the early years of Putin's rule.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

Sure enough, part of Snoop’s social media mission took him on the U.S. basketball team’s bus to hobnob with Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and other court superstars.

From Salon • Aug. 9, 2024

So they have jumped at the chance to glad-hand voters, kiss babies, and hobnob with activists at backyard barbecues and meetups at the chain of Pizza Ranch restaurants that have become an Iowa campaign staple.

From Washington Times • Sep. 10, 2023

“He won’t be able to hobnob and network, but he will be visible,” she added.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 29, 2021

Before he peels away to hobnob, he says he has a thought about another way to illustrate the way attention works, and how easily it can be fractured in the modern world.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel