Hover (Verb)
Meaning 1
Move to and fro; "The shy student lingered in the corner".
Classification
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations.
Examples
- She hesitated near the doorway, her eyes fixed on the group as she hovered uncertainly.
- A waiter hovered behind them, refilling their drinks as needed during dinner.
- Tourists tend to hover around popular landmarks to get the perfect photo opportunity.
- He was excited about the event, frequently hovering around the registration desk.
- His mother hovered anxiously, making sure he had everything he needed before school.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 2
Be suspended in the air, as if in defiance of gravity; "The guru claimed that he could levitate".
Classification
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming.
Examples
- The helicopter will hover above the land while the crew assess the situation.
- A hummingbird is able to hover in mid-air as it sips nectar from a flower.
- A levitating ball appeared to hover a few inches off the magician's outstretched palm.
- The dragonfly hovered delicately above the surface of the water, its iridescent wings beating rapidly.
- A small toy plane will hover in place, using its precise flight control system to maintain equilibrium.
Synonyms
Meaning 3
Hang in the air; fly or be suspended above.
Classification
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming.
Examples
- The helicopter began to hover above the landing site, awaiting clearance to touch down.
- A hummingbird can hover in the air, beating its wings at incredible speeds.
- The spacecraft entered the Earth's atmosphere and started to hover above the planet before landing.
- Kites hover high in the air on windy days, their strings taut from the force of the wind.
- After a dramatic pause, the magician's assistant seemed to hover in mid-air before descending to the stage.
Hypernyms
Meaning 4
Hang over, as of something threatening, dark, or menacing; "The terrible vision brooded over her all day long".
Classification
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations.
Examples
- A cloud of foreboding hovered over the town all morning, threatening a storm at any moment.
- The dark legend hovered over the family for generations, influencing their every decision.
- A specter of unemployment hovered over the community as the plant began its shutdown.
- A sense of dread hovered over her as she faced the final moments of her grandfather's illness.
- The risk of bankruptcy hovered over the struggling company, overwhelming the owner's every waking moment.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Meaning 5
Be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action; "He oscillates between accepting the new position and retirement".
Classification
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations.
Examples
- She continues to hover between two job offers, unable to decide which one to accept.
- He has been hovering between buying a new house and renting an apartment for months.
- The politician's stance on the issue seems to hover between supporting the new legislation and opposing it.
- The jury has been hovering between a guilty verdict and a not guilty verdict for hours.
- The investor is hovering between investing in stocks or bonds due to the market's volatility.