hover

/'hɔvə/

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Definition of "Hover"

"Hover" is a verb that means to stay in one place in the air or to remain in a position without moving much. It can also mean to be indecisive or to stay close to something without fully committing.

Usage Instructions

• Basic Usage: You can use "hover" when talking about things that float or stay in the air. It can also describe a person who is uncertain about making a decision.
• Form: The base form is "hover," and it can be used in different tenses like "hovered" (past) or "hovering" (present continuous).

Examples

1. Physical Hovering:

   • "The helicopter hovered above the building."
   • "A hummingbird can hover in front of a flower."

2. Figurative Hovering:

   • "She hovered between accepting the job offer and staying at her current job."
   • "Doubts about her abilities hovered in her mind."

Advanced Usage

In more advanced contexts, "hover" can refer to lingering thoughts or emotions, often with a negative connotation. For instance: - "Anxiety hovered over him as he waited for the exam results."

Word Variants

• Noun: "Hovering" (the act of hovering)
  • Example: "The hovering of the drone captured everyone's attention."

Different Meanings

1. Physical Meaning: To remain suspended in the air, often used in contexts involving flying objects or animals.
2. Emotional/Abstract Meaning: To linger or remain close to something, often implying uncertainty or indecision.
3. Threatening Presence: To imply a sense of danger or anxiety that is nearby.

Synonyms

• For physical hovering: float, suspend, levitate
• For indecision: waver, vacillate, oscillate

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

• While "hover" does not have common idioms directly related to it, you might use phrases like "hover on the edge" to describe being very close to making a decision but not quite committing.
• Phrasal Verb: "Hover over" can mean to stay close to something, often in a protective or watchful way.
  • Example: "The teacher hovered over the students during the test to ensure they were not cheating."

Summary

In summary, "hover" is a versatile verb that can describe physical actions of floating or remaining in place as well as emotional states of indecision.

Academic

Verb

1. hang over, as of something threatening, dark, or menacing
   • The terrible vision brooded over her all day long
2. be suspended in the air, as if in defiance of gravity
   • The guru claimed that he could levitate
3. hang in the air; fly or be suspended above
4. move to and fro
   • The shy student lingered in the corner
5. be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
   • He oscillates between accepting the new position and retirement

Synonyms

• brood
• loom
• bulk large
• levitate
• linger
• vibrate
• vacillate
• oscillate