# hog

/ˈhɑɡ/ (US) · /hˈɒɡ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hog
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to take more than your share

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to take or use most of something in a greedy way so that others cannot have any.

For teachers: to monopolise a resource or space greedily or selfishly. Transitive; requires a direct object.

- Stop hogging the remote control and let someone else choose a channel.
- He tended to hog the conversation during board meetings, rarely allowing his colleagues to voice their concerns regarding the budget.

### 2. a pig

noun · CEFR B2

a large pig, especially one that is fully grown.

For teachers: a domesticated swine, specifically an adult animal raised for meat.

- The farmer kept several hogs in the large pen behind the barn.
- The livestock competition featured various breeds of hogs, each judged on their physical proportions and health.

### 3. a greedy person

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a person who is greedy or selfish.

For teachers: a person who acts in a gluttonous or selfishly acquisitive manner.

- Don't be such a hog; leave some pizza for the rest of us.
- In the local community, he was known as a corporate hog who prioritised personal profit over the welfare of his employees.

### 4. a large motorcycle

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang

a very large and heavy motorcycle.

For teachers: a large, heavy motorcycle, often specifically referring to a Harley-Davidson. Frequently used within biker subcultures.

- He spent every weekend cleaning his hog before taking it out for a long ride.
- The roar of dozens of hogs filled the air as the motorcycle club rode through the small mountain town.

### 5. to curve upward

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

when the middle of a ship's floor curves upward.

For teachers: to cause the middle of a ship's hull or keel to arch upwards while the ends droop, typically due to uneven loading or heavy seas.

- The old wooden ship began to hog because it was loaded incorrectly.
- If the cargo is concentrated at the bow and stern, the hull may hog, putting dangerous structural stress on the keel.

Usage: The verb is often used in the passive voice or as a participial adjective ('a hogged hull').

## Examples

- Stop trying to hog the remote control.
- My brother always tends to hog the bathroom in the morning when I am already running late for work.
- The local industry was accused of trying to hog the water supply during the drought, leaving residential areas with strictly enforced rationing and dry taps.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.