# hover

/ˈhəvɝ/ (US) · /hˈɒvɐ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hover
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

to stay in one place in the air without moving away. You can also use this to describe keeping your computer mouse over a specific spot on the screen.

For teachers: to remain suspended in one place in the air; to linger or wait close by in an uncertain or expectant manner. In computing contexts, it refers to positioning a cursor over a graphical element without clicking.

## Examples

- The bird can hover in the air while looking for food.
- If you hover your mouse over the image, a small box with more information will appear on the screen.
- The helicopter continued to hover above the dense forest canopy, searching for any sign of the missing hikers before the fading light made further observation impossible.

## Usage notes

- The verb is intransitive when describing flight, but functions transitively in computing contexts ('hover the mouse').

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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.