bear hug
noun
a strong, tight embrace.
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bear hug
1 Americannoun
-
a strong, tight embrace.
My father gave me a big bear hug as soon as I stepped out of the taxi.
-
Wrestling. a hold in which one contestant locks both arms around the other in order to make the opponent fall to the mat.
bear-hug
2
American
[bair-huhg]
/ ˈbɛərˌhʌg /
verb (used with object)
bear-hugged,
bear-hugging
bear hug
British
noun
-
a wrestling hold in which the arms are locked tightly round an opponent's chest and arms
-
any similar tight embrace
-
commerce an approach to the board of one company by another to indicate that an offer is to be made for their shares
Etymology
Origin of bear hug1
First recorded in 1920–25
Origin of bear-hug2
First recorded in 1955–60
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.
See Examples For:
Proctor nodded along as Coen spoke and enveloped his attorney, Tom Yu, in a bear hug after the ruling was finalized.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2026
Our critic praised the star for “his admirable ability to give audiences a big bear hug without leaving the stage.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 15, 2026
Sullivan said, pulling his friend in for a bear hug as they both sobbed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 23, 2025
Giant lineman JC Latham did not get the memo though as he gave Goodell a huge bear hug after being drafted by the Tennessee Titans.
From BBC ● Apr. 29, 2024
Under my mother’s glare, he gave Caroline a timid peck on the cheek, then wrapped his arms around me and gave me a bear hug.
From "Krik? Krak!" by Edwidge Danticat
Defensive end Trey Hendrickson got around left tackle Dion Dawkins to bear-hug Allen, who unloaded the ball for an incomplete pass just before hitting the turf.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 25, 2023
“We literally had to bear-hug the hull” to get the parts in place, said Mersai’s classmate, Henry Peters.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 20, 2022
The respect and affection in which he was held still obvious, the bear-hug greeting still as warm and friendly.
From BBC ● Dec. 14, 2020
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who wrapped assistant coach Jeff Capel in a big bear-hug at center court, was still wearing his 2010 title ring won in the same building.
From Washington Times ● Apr. 7, 2015
To the amusement of the other passengers, the two seized each other in a bear-hug.
From The Clarion by Stevens, William Dodge
Ohtani’s excitement for the game and his teammates—especially Yamamoto, whom he giddily bear-hugged in the celebration last night—does as much to lift the sport as his remarkable two-way talent.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2025
No idiosyncrasy is too singular for him to wrestle into submission – and over three seasons of the Syfy series, he’s bear-hugged a lot of them.
From Salon ● Mar. 28, 2024
He was voted NBA MVP — that has Harden who bear-hugged Embiid when his name was called — and won his second straight league scoring title.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 29, 2023
She bear-hugged Padilla while the two did a happy dance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 28, 2023
His mom saw him and started yelling and waving, laughing as Ricky bear-hugged her from behind.
From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss
Nick Kyrgios stole the show, especially with his bear-hugging celebration on court with doubles partner Alex de Minaur.
From The Guardian ● Jan. 11, 2020
She runs from him, and he gives chase, bear-hugging her from behind, sobbing, apologizing, his nose running, until they kiss.
From Slate ● Mar. 5, 2019
On premiere nights and Emmy celebrations, he could be found bear-hugging, cajoling and propping up writers, actors and producers, not to mention the magazine editors and columnists he had brought into his fold.
From New York Times ● Feb. 28, 2019
The theft drew global attention after police released surveillance video last month showing a man reaching into an armored truck, then tottering away while bear-hugging the pot.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 21, 2016
I have seen pictures of the graduation day hung about his house, Kwang and his wife, May, smiling in the bright afternoon light, bear-hugging each other.
From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee
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.
