hug
Americanverb (used with object)
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to clasp tightly in the arms, especially with affection; embrace.
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to cling firmly or fondly to; cherish.
to hug an opinion.
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to keep close to, as in sailing, walking, or in moving along or alongside of.
to hug the shore;
to hug the road.
verb (used without object)
noun
verb
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(also intr) to clasp (another person or thing) tightly or (of two people) to cling close together; embrace
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to keep close to a shore, kerb, etc
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to cling to (beliefs, etc); cherish
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to congratulate (oneself); be delighted with (oneself)
noun
Other Word Forms
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”
Explanation
To hug someone is to warmly embrace or grasp them with your arms. Some families hug each other all the time, while others save their hugs for special occasions. Celebrate National Hug Your Cat Day if you want to, but your cat may be less enthusiastic about it than you are. Hug is both a verb and a noun: when you hug your cat, she gets a hug. You can also hug your knees, holding them close to your body, and your skinny jeans can be said to hug your legs, or fit tightly. Hug probably comes from the Old Norse hugga, "to comfort."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Swiss great Marcel Hug cruised to a record-equalling eighth London Marathon victory in the elite men's wheelchair race, tying level with Great Britain's David Weir by winning for a fifth successive year.
From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026
“I’m not ready to buy the dip right now. Hug your benchmark, is what I’d recommend.”
From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026
"It gives citizens and consumers yet another reason to not go out and buy a product that's too expensive," said Thibaud Hug de Larauze, co-founder of refurbished tech marketplace Back Market.
From Barron's • Mar. 3, 2026
Three of its songs also made up the top 40 - including Gimme A Hug.
From BBC • Feb. 22, 2025
Mamou turned to wrap up Laleh in a Level Thirteen Hug.
From "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
