hookup

[ hook-uhp ]

/ ˈhʊkˌʌp /

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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.

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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. 2022

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]