Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense hugs, present participle hugging, past tense, past participle hugged
1. verb
When you hug someone, you put your arms around them and hold them tightly, for example because you like them or are pleased to see them. You can also say that two people hug each other or that they hug.
She had hugged him exuberantly and invited him to dinner the next day. [VERB noun]
They hugged each other like a couple of lost children. [V n (non-recip)]
We hugged and kissed. [VERB]
Synonyms: embrace, hold (onto), cuddle, squeeze More Synonyms of hug
Hug is also a noun.
Syvil leapt out of the back seat, and gave him a hug.
2. verb
If you hug something, you hold it close to your body with your arms tightly round it.
Shaerl trudged toward them, hugging a large box. [VERB noun]
She hugged her legs tight to her chest. [VERB noun adverb/preposition]
She stood hugging her quilted jacket round her. [VERB noun adverb/preposition]
Synonyms: clasp, hold (onto), grip, nurse More Synonyms of hug
3. verb
Something that hugs the ground or a stretch of land or water stays very close to it.
[written]
The road hugs the coast for hundreds of miles. [VERB noun]
Our pilot reduced height until we hugged the ground. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: follow closely, keep close, stay near, cling to More Synonyms of hug
4. See also bear hug
More Synonyms of hug
hug in British English
(hʌɡ)
verbWord forms: hugs, hugging or hugged(mainly tr)
1. (also intr)
to clasp (another person or thing) tightly or (of two people) to cling close together; embrace
2.
to keep close to a shore, kerb, etc
3.
to cling to (beliefs, etc); cherish
4.
to congratulate (oneself); be delighted with (oneself)
noun
5.
a tight or fond embrace
Derived forms
huggable (ˈhuggable)
adjective
hugger (ˈhugger)
noun
Word origin
C16: probably of Scandinavian origin; related to Old Norse hugga to comfort, Old English hogian to take care of
hug in American English
(hʌg)
verb transitiveWord forms: hugged or ˈhugging
1.
to put the arms around and hold closely; esp., to embrace tightly and affectionately
2.
to squeeze tightly between the forelegs, as a bear does
3.
to cling to or cherish (a belief, opinion, etc.)
4.
to keep close to
to hug the shoreline in sailing
verb intransitive
5.
to clasp or embrace each other closely
noun
6.
a close, affectionate embrace
7.
a tight clasp or hold with the arms, as in wrestling
8.
a bear's squeeze
Derived forms
huggable (ˈhuggable)
adjective
hugger (ˈhugger)
noun
Word origin
prob. via dial. < ON hugga, to comfort, console
Examples of 'hug' in a sentence
hug
She goes across and gives the dog a big hug.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
People hugged as they viewed the tributes.
The Sun (2016)
And to our surprise she hugged her back!
The Sun (2016)
Give him lots of hugs and get yourself along to the gym too.
The Sun (2016)
The eastern, southern and western parts of the road hug the coast.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I wanted to hug him and say thank you for saving my life.
The Sun (2016)
We sat on the sofa and I leaned over to give her a hug.
The Sun (2017)
Some of the beneficiaries of past collapses joined the group hug.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The individually sculpted sports seats hug you like a tight suit.
The Sun (2009)
The brothers then get up and hug.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We just want somebody to give him a nice big hug.
The Sun (2013)
Fans were delighted to see the couple share a hug on the red carpet.
The Sun (2016)
Many people wanted to hug when we were done.
Christianity Today (2000)
There would have been pats on the back and comforting hugs.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We hugged to say goodbye and she whispered that she liked me and would miss me.
The Sun (2012)
Sara hugged her close and tried to laugh.
Frances Hodgson Burnett A Little Princess (1905)
Before they left the ground they were hugging.
The Sun (2013)
The big hug before the game happened today.
The Sun (2010)
Next morning they paddled off in kayaks, hugging the coast along a sheer rock face.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Britons have shed their stiff upper lip reputation and have embraced hugging, a new study suggests.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Would you like a hug, just to let you know somebody loves you?
Leo McKinstry Sir Alf: A Major Reappraisal of the Life and Times of England's Greatest FootballManager (2006)
What generally happens is that the arms collapse and are hugged into the body, a fault that is referred to as "losing width in the swing".
Lewis, Beverly Winning Golf for Women (1993)
In other languages
hug
British English: hug /hʌɡ/ NOUN
If you give someone a hug, you put your arms around them and hold them tightly, for example because you like them or are pleased to see them.
Syvil leapt out of the back seat, and gave him a hug.
American English: hug
Arabic: حَضَن
Brazilian Portuguese: abraço
Chinese: 拥抱
Croatian: zagrljaj
Czech: objetí
Danish: knus
Dutch: knuffel
European Spanish: abrazo
Finnish: halaus
French: accolade
German: Umarmung
Greek: αγκαλιά
Italian: abbraccio
Japanese: 抱きしめること
Korean: 포옹
Norwegian: klem
Polish: uścisk
European Portuguese: abraço
Romanian: îmbrățișare
Russian: объятие
Latin American Spanish: abrazo
Swedish: kram
Thai: การกอด
Turkish: kucaklama
Ukrainian: обійми
Vietnamese: cái ôm
British English: hug /hʌɡ/ VERB
When you hug someone, you put your arms around them and hold them tightly, for example because you like them or are pleased to see them. You can also say that two people hug each other or that they hug.
She had hugged him exuberantly and invited him to dinner the next day.
American English: hug
Arabic: يَحْضُنُ
Brazilian Portuguese: abraçar
Chinese: 拥抱
Croatian: zagrliti
Czech: obejmout
Danish: kramme
Dutch: omhelzen
European Spanish: abrazar
Finnish: halata
French: serrer dans ses bras
German: umarmen
Greek: αγκαλιάζω
Italian: abbracciare
Japanese: 抱きしめる
Korean: ...을 껴안다
Norwegian: klemme
Polish: uściskać
European Portuguese: abraçar
Romanian: a îmbrățișa
Russian: обнимать
Latin American Spanish: abrazar
Swedish: krama
Thai: กอด
Turkish: kucaklamak
Ukrainian: обіймати
Vietnamese: ôm
Chinese translation of 'hug'
hug
(hʌɡ)
vt
[person]拥(擁)抱 (yōngbào)
[object]紧(緊)抱 (jǐnbào)
n(c)
拥(擁)抱 (yōngbào) (个(個), gè)
to give sb a hug拥(擁)抱某人 (yōngbào mǒurén)
1 (verb)
Definition
to clasp (someone or something) tightly, usually with affection
They hugged each other like a couple of lost children.
Synonyms
embrace
Penelope came forward and embraced her sister.
hold (onto)
cuddle
He cuddled their newborn baby.
squeeze
He scooped up the puppy and squeezed it.
cling
She had to cling onto the door handle until the pain passed.
clasp
Mary clasped the children to her desperately.
enfold
I enfolded the baby gently in my arms.
hold close
take in your arms
2 (verb)
Definition
to clasp (someone or something) tightly, usually with affection
She trudged towards them, hugging a large box.
Synonyms
clasp
hold (onto)
grip
She gripped his hand tightly.
nurse
retain
3 (verb)
Definition
to keep close to (a shore or the kerb)
The road hugs the coast for hundreds of miles.
Synonyms
follow closely
keep close
stay near
cling to
follow the course of
(noun)
Definition
a tight or fond embrace
I leapt out of the seat, and gave him a hug.
Synonyms
embrace
We were locked in a loving embrace.
squeeze
She gave her teddy bear a squeeze.
bear hug
clinch (slang)
They were caught in a clinch when her parents returned home.
clasp
He gripped my hand in a strong clasp.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of clinch
Definition
a lovers' embrace
They were caught in a clinch when her parents returned home.
Synonyms
embrace,
hug,
cuddle
in the sense of cling
Definition
to hold fast or stick closely (to something)
She had to cling onto the door handle until the pain passed.