English Reference

Word

hooking

Phoneticshook·ing

US/ˈhʊkɪŋ/

UK/hˈʊkɪŋ/

Definition

v. connecting two things together using a hook or a similar shape. You can also use it to describe catching something, like a fish.

v. the present participle of 'hook'; refers to the act of fastening, attaching, or catching something with a curved implement.

Examples

“She is hooking the trailer to the back of the car.”

“The fisherman spent the entire morning hooking small trout near the edge of the lake.”

“By hooking the heavy cables to the reinforced steel frame, the engineers ensured the bridge section would remain stable during the high-altitude lift.”

Examples

simple

“She is hooking the trailer to the back of the car.”

contextual

“The fisherman spent the entire morning hooking small trout near the edge of the lake.”

complex

“By hooking the heavy cables to the reinforced steel frame, the engineers ensured the bridge section would remain stable during the high-altitude lift.”

Usage

Often used as a transitive verb requiring a direct object; frequently pairs with the preposition 'to' or 'onto'.

Real-World Examples

“Hooking away the ball from the England box, Harry Kane kicked a Mexican leg.”
The Guardian · 5 Sept 2026

Word family

hookNounhookerNounhookingVerb

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/hooking

English Reference