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

Michael Jackson’s estate could’ve existed in this gray area forevermore, letting his memory hover somewhere between genius and joker.

From Salon • Apr. 25, 2026

On the Moon, weak gravity allows charged dust to hover above the surface.

From Science Daily • Apr. 23, 2026

Nor do they hover around the main action, loosing barbs of criticism or leering suggestively over their martinis or wistfully reminiscing about the past.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

The readings offer hope for the housing market’s spring buying season, which is expected to be dampened by mortgage rates that moved sharply higher last month and continue to hover around 6.5%.

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

“The scent of godhood lies in the burdens that hover above you. Pungent and powerful stenches they are,” he said.

From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi

Related Words

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