hug
verb (used with object)
to clasp tightly in the arms, especially with affection; embrace.
hugging
-
present participleof hug.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
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.
Schwarzenegger and Newsom piled praise upon each other during the Wednesday afternoon discussion, hugging at the end.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026
As he spoke, mothers in the back rows swayed from side to side, hugging exhausted toddlers who had missed nap time.
From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026
The U.S. military has provided some protection to tankers moving through the strait hugging Oman’s coast, and ship-to-ship transfers have been a growing way to get crude flowing out of the Middle East again.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026
"There was screaming and hugging of total strangers and a lot of silence," she said.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
He reached up and embraced the second boy, hugging him hard, so that the blows were smothered between their chests.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
