hug
verb (used with object)
to clasp tightly in the arms, especially with affection; embrace.
hugging
-
present participleof hug.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
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.
A picture of Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband hugging a child in Ukraine is captioned on his "fury at Putin".
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
While he said “I can’t walk into a room without hugging and shaking hands and talking to everybody,” Simmons also noted that Elanco isn’t necessarily “a warm and fuzzy place.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
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
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
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
