hug

HUG/hʌɡ/

Verbhugs, hugging, hugged

Noun pluralhugs

7 meanings of hug

Practice

1
verbtransitivereciprocal
To hold someone close in your arms to show you care.
Like wrapping your arms around someone you care about.
She hugged her little brother before the bus arrived.
I always hug my friends when I see them.
Similarembrace, hold, cuddle, squeeze, clasp
Note
2
nouncountable
A warm hold in someone's arms that shows a strong feeling like love or joy.
Like being wrapped up in a warm blanket made of someone's arms.
She gave her mom a big hug after the show.
The long hug made him feel safe.
Similarembrace, cuddle, squeeze
Note
3
verbtransitive
To stay very close to something as you move along it.
Like walking right next to a wall so you almost touch it.
The little boat hugged the shoreline all afternoon.
Drivers should hug the right lane on narrow roads.
Similarfollow, skirt, trace
Note
4
verbfigurativelytransitive
To hold on to a belief or hope strongly and not let it go.
Like holding a favorite toy tight and never wanting to give it away.
She still hugs the hope that they will meet again.
They hug old traditions that others have forgotten.
Similarnurse, harbor, cherish, nurture
Note
5
verbintransitive
To press close together, holding on to one another.
Like a row of books leaning tightly against each other.
The frightened puppies hugged together in the corner.
When it gets cold, the chicks hug close for warmth.
Similarhuddle, cling, cuddle, snuggle, nestle
6
nouncountable
A special way of gripping your opponent in wrestling.
Like locking your arms around someone so they can't move.
The coach taught us a new hug for holding down an opponent.
He escaped the hug just before the referee counted.
Similarhold, grip, clinch

Less common meaning

7
verbobsoleteintransitive
To crouch down and huddle up, as when you are very cold.
They had a slight breast work, and they hugged down behind it and waited.
1885, M. Quad, FieldHere, hugged down means crouched low and tight.
She put her feet on a rung and hugged down against her knees, making herself even smaller.
2014, Thomas Gifford, The Cavanaugh QuestHere, hugged down means curled up low and tight.
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of hug apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

This word comes from an older form 'hugge' meaning 'to embrace,' first seen in 1560. It probably mixed 'huck' (to crouch or huddle) with Old Norse 'hugga' meaning 'to comfort.'