bear hug
noun
a strong, tight embrace.
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bear hug
1 Americannoun
-
a strong, tight embrace.
My father gave me a big bear hug as soon as I stepped out of the taxi.
-
Wrestling. a hold in which one contestant locks both arms around the other in order to make the opponent fall to the mat.
bear-hug
2
American
[bair-huhg]
/ ˈbɛərˌhʌg /
verb (used with object)
bear-hugged,
bear-hugging
bear hug
British
noun
-
a wrestling hold in which the arms are locked tightly round an opponent's chest and arms
-
any similar tight embrace
-
commerce an approach to the board of one company by another to indicate that an offer is to be made for their shares
Etymology
Origin of bear hug1
First recorded in 1920–25
Origin of bear-hug2
First recorded in 1955–60
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:
After he grounded out in his final at-bat, Freeman enveloped him in an impromptu bear hug.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
Proctor nodded along as Coen spoke and enveloped his attorney, Tom Yu, in a bear hug after the ruling was finalized.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2026
Yvonne Carvalho, a 5-foot dynamo with oversize black glasses and purple MAC lipstick, greeted the nurse anesthesiologist with a bear hug and questions about her dating life and her daughter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 10, 2025
Giant lineman JC Latham did not get the memo though as he gave Goodell a huge bear hug after being drafted by the Tennessee Titans.
From BBC ● Apr. 29, 2024
Aurora is wrapping Bryce’s legs up in a bear hug like it’s the only way to get out her need to squeeze something super tight with love.
From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden
“We literally had to bear-hug the hull” to get the parts in place, said Mersai’s classmate, Henry Peters.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 20, 2022
On a third and eight, Young used a quick swim move to duck tackle Isaiah Wynn and bear-hug Newton, who released the ball just before the hit.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 12, 2021
The respect and affection in which he was held still obvious, the bear-hug greeting still as warm and friendly.
From BBC ● Dec. 14, 2020
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who wrapped assistant coach Jeff Capel in a big bear-hug at center court, was still wearing his 2010 title ring won in the same building.
From Washington Times ● Apr. 7, 2015
How we all shook hands and laughed as we came together, and how Mrs. Challenger kissed us all in her emotion, before she finally threw herself into the bear-hug of her husband.
From The Poison Belt by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Ohtani’s excitement for the game and his teammates—especially Yamamoto, whom he giddily bear-hugged in the celebration last night—does as much to lift the sport as his remarkable two-way talent.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2025
Joe Smigiel bear-hugged every player and coach in sight after breaking his team’s postgame huddle.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 16, 2024
No idiosyncrasy is too singular for him to wrestle into submission – and over three seasons of the Syfy series, he’s bear-hugged a lot of them.
From Salon ● Mar. 28, 2024
In seconds, Ellenby had gently bear-hugged Hannah and slowly walked her into a back-row seat, where she sat on Ellenby’s lap and eventually rocked back and forth to the beat of the drummers onstage.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 3, 2022
She reached out her arms and bear-hugged me and I hugged her back, and she whispered, “Okay, go.”
From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs
“What the company should be doing is focusing on bear-hugging their brand loyalists,” Siegel said.
From New York Times ● Feb. 1, 2023
Nick Kyrgios stole the show, especially with his bear-hugging celebration on court with doubles partner Alex de Minaur.
From The Guardian ● Jan. 11, 2020
She runs from him, and he gives chase, bear-hugging her from behind, sobbing, apologizing, his nose running, until they kiss.
From Slate ● Mar. 5, 2019
The theft drew global attention after police released surveillance video last month showing a man reaching into an armored truck, then tottering away while bear-hugging the pot.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 21, 2016
Two Step and Mapper solved that problem by running up and bear-hugging her before she could get a word out.
From "Dactyl Hill Squad" by Daniel José Older
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