hug

American  

[huhg] / hʌg /

verb (used with object)

hugged, hugging

1. to clasp tightly in the arms, especially with affection; embrace.

2. to cling firmly or fondly to; cherish.

   to hug an opinion.

3. to keep close to, as in sailing, walking, or in moving along or alongside of.

   to hug the shore;

   to hug the road.

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verb (used without object)

hugged, hugging

1. to cling together; lie close.

noun

1. a tight clasp with the arms; embrace.

hug British  

/ hʌɡ /

verb

1. (also intr) to clasp (another person or thing) tightly or (of two people) to cling close together; embrace

2. to keep close to a shore, kerb, etc

3. to cling to (beliefs, etc); cherish

4. to congratulate (oneself); be delighted with (oneself)

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noun

1. a tight or fond embrace

Other Word Forms

• huggable adjective
• hugger noun
• huggingly adverb
• unhugged adjective

Etymology

Origin of hug

First recorded in 1560–70; perhaps from Old Norse hugga “to soothe, console”; akin to Old English hogian “to care for”

Example Sentences

The next day, they drove to a government office in Tampa to get Flores’ signature, where the girls were allowed to see and hug her.

From Salon • Mar. 24, 2026

And late on Tuesday, Rodriguez posted a message to the team: “I want in the name of our people, of the government of Venezuela, to thank and hug our players.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

Rivka said she could not hug her mother or throw earth to cover her father's coffin, an important ritual in Judaism.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

When the horn sounded to end Friday night’s City Section Open Division boys’ basketball final, the first person OJ and EJ Popoola wanted to hug was their father Chris.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 28, 2026

She shoves her phone in her pocket and then comes over to me, throwing her arms around me in a hug.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

Related Words

• embrace