hover

American  

[huhv-er, hov-] / ˈhʌv ər, ˈhɒv- /

verb (used without object)

1. to hang fluttering or suspended in the air.

   The helicopter hovered over the building.

2. to keep lingering about; wait near at hand.

3. to remain in an uncertain or irresolute state; waver.

   to hover between life and death.

   Synonyms:

   fluctuate, pause, falter

4. Computers. to place a pointer over an area of a screen without clicking or tapping, as with a mouse or stylus.

   Hover over the icon to reveal more information.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cause to hover.

2. Computers. to place (a pointer) over an area of a screen without clicking or tapping.

noun

1. the act or state of hovering.

hover British  

/ ˈhɒvə /

verb

1. (intr) to remain suspended in one place

2. (intr) (of certain birds, esp hawks) to remain in one place in the air by rapidly beating the wings

3. (intr) to linger uncertainly in a nervous or solicitous way

4. (intr) to be in a state of indecision

   she was hovering between the two suitors

5. (tr) computing to hold (the mouse pointer) over a defined area on a web page without clicking, in order to cause a menu, information box, etc to appear

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noun

1. the act of hovering

Related Words

See fly ² .

Other Word Forms

• hoverer noun
• hoveringly adverb

Etymology

Origin of hover

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English hoveren, frequentative of hoven “to hover,” of obscure origin

Explanation

A hover craft flies low over the ground or water — it hovers. Hover can also mean waver. Think of someone that can’t decide exactly where to land. To help remember the meaning of hover, think of it as containing the preposition over: things that hover hang over. A temperature can hover around forty degrees, a grade in a class can hover around a B.

Example Sentences

When the economy is growing smoothly, odds of a recession hover around 15%.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026

As we talk, on occasion the screeching call of a toucan pierces the quiet, and miles above, the same giant black birds hover menacingly in groups, surveying everything below.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

JPMorgan estimates that software debt accounts for around 30% of all private-credit loans outstanding, while bank-originated debts hover around 10%.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

Typically, temperatures in Southern California hover around the 70s in March, but an unusual summer-like heat will extend over most of the state and the Southwest for several days.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 2026

“Don’t press the gold one though, whatever you do. It will make you hover on the wind and people will think you’re flying.”

From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega

Related Words

• drift
• flicker
• flutter
• fly
• linger
• poise
• waver