hover

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈhɒvər/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈhʌvɚ, ˈhɑv-/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(huv′ər, hov′-)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
hov•er /ˈhʌvɚ, ˈhɑv-/USA pronunciation   v. [no object]
  1. to hang fluttering or suspended in the air:a kite hovering over the yard.
  2. to remain near someone or something:He kept hovering outside my office.
  3. to remain in an uncertain state:to hover between life and death.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
hov•er  (huv′ər, hov′-),USA pronunciation v.i. 
  1. to hang fluttering or suspended in the air:The helicopter hovered over the building.
  2. to keep lingering about;
    wait near at hand.
  3. to remain in an uncertain or irresolute state;
    waver:to hover between life and death.

n. 
  1. the act or state of hovering.
  • ?
  • Middle English hoveren, frequentative of hoven to hover 1350–1400
hov′er•er, n. 
hov′er•ing•ly, adv. 
    1. See fly 1. 3. falter, pause, fluctuate.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
hover /ˈhɒvə/ vb
  1. (intransitive) to remain suspended in one place
  2. (intransitive) (of certain birds, esp hawks) to remain in one place in the air by rapidly beating the wings
  3. (intransitive) to linger uncertainly in a nervous or solicitous way
  4. (intransitive) to be in a state of indecision
 n
  1. the act of hovering
Etymology: 14th Century: hoveren, variant of hoven, of obscure originˈhoverer n
'hover' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
hang - hawk moth - helicopter - kestrel - cattle egret - float - fly - hovercraft - Hovertrain - hummingbird - overhang - poise - windhover - swarm

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