# hooks

/ˈhʊks/ (US) · /hˈʊks/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hooks
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 2. music/marketing

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

short, catchy parts of a song or story that grab your attention.

For teachers: plural noun referring to catchy musical motifs or narrative devices designed to capture and maintain the audience's attention.

- That pop song is famous for its catchy hooks that stay in your head all day.
- The songwriter spent hours refining the melodic hooks, knowing that a successful radio hit requires an immediate and memorable opening.

## Examples

- Please hang your coats on the hooks by the door.
- The fisherman carefully baited the hooks before casting his line into the deep water.
- The gallery installed heavy-duty hooks along the main wall to support the weight of the massive oil paintings during the exhibition.

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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.