hookup

[ hook-uhp ]

/ ˈhʊkˌʌp /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for hookup on Thesaurus.com

noun

an act or instance of hooking up.

an assembly and connection of parts, components, or apparatus into a circuit, network, machine, or system.

the circuit, network, machine, or system so formed.

a device or connection, as a plug, hose, or pipe, for conveying electricity, a water supply, etc., from a source to a user: Some campsites have electrical hookups for trailers.

Informal. an association, alliance, or cooperative effort: A closer hookup of Caribbean nations would be good for international trade.

Informal.

a sexual encounter without a long-term commitment: I’m over these college boys who are only interested in meaningless hookups.
a person with whom one has such an encounter: I ran into an old hookup at the club, but I pretended not to remember her.

Slang.

a supplier of illicit goods, usually drugs: My hookup is getting out of the game—can you introduce me to your guy?
access to illegal drugs: When you are trying to score on the street it is easy to see who has the hookup.

QUIZ

ALL IN FAVO(U)R OF THIS BRITISH VS. AMERICAN ENGLISH QUIZ

There's an ocean of difference between the way people speak English in the US vs. the UK. Are your language skills up to the task of telling the difference? Let's find out!

Question 1 of 7

True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of hookup

An Americanism dating back to 1900–05; noun use of verb phrase hook up

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use hookup in a sentence

“I think for trans men who are dating every time they hook up they have another coming out,” Sandler said.
Grindr’s Trans Dating Problem|David Levesley|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In that photo, Merabet has a big smile that spreads across his whole face and lights up his eyes.
The Muslim Cop Killed by Terrorists|Michael Daly|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
We won't find out this season, though it comes up occasionally.
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS|Marlow Stern|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Kickstarter is one start-up platform that seems to have realized the danger.
Design Your Own Dinosaur: The Era of Custom DNA|Justin Jones|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST

The most recent issue contains detailed instructions for building car bombs, and the magazine frequently draws up hit-lists.
U.S. Spies See Al Qaeda Fingerprints on Paris Massacre|Shane Harris, Nancy A. Youssef|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
What need to look to right or left when you are swallowing up free mile after mile of dizzying road?
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
Most of the men leaped up, caught hold of spears or knives, and rushed out.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
Some weeks after, the creditor chanced to be in Boston, and in walking up Tremont street, encountered his enterprising friend.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
In less than ten minutes, the bivouac was broken up, and our little army on the march.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
The bride elect rushes up to him, and so they both step down to the foot-lights.
Physiology of The Opera|John H. Swaby (AKA "Scrici")

British Dictionary definitions for hookup

hook-up

noun

the contact of an aircraft in flight with the refuelling hose of a tanker aircraft

an alliance or relationship, esp an unlikely one, between people, countries, etc

the linking of broadcasting equipment or stations to transmit a special programme

verb hook up (adverb)

to connect (two or more people or things)

(often foll by with) slang to get married (to)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with hookup

hook up

Assemble or wire a mechanism, as in Dick helped us hook up the stereo system. [1920s]

Connect a mechanism with a main source, as in The computer had not yet been hooked up to the mainframe. [1920s]

hook up with. Form a tie or association, as in She had hooked up with the wrong crowd. [Slang; mid-1900s]