# hovering

/ˈhəvɝɪŋ/ (US) · /hˈɒvəɹɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. staying in the air

verb · CEFR B2

staying in one place in the air without moving forward.

For teachers: remaining suspended in one place in the air, typically through the use of wings or mechanical lift.

- The helicopter was hovering over the field before it landed.
- A large hawk was hovering effortlessly above the valley, its keen eyes searching the tall grass for any sign of movement.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'over' or 'above'.

### 2. waiting nearby

verb · CEFR B2

staying near someone because you are waiting for something or are nervous.

For teachers: remaining in a state of irresolution or expectant waiting in the immediate vicinity of a person or place.

- The waiter was hovering near our table, waiting to take our plates.
- She remained hovering by the manager's office, hoping for a brief moment to discuss the urgent changes to the contract.

Usage: Usually takes the preposition 'near', 'by', or 'around'.

### 3. the act of staying in place

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of staying in one spot in the air or near a person.

For teachers: the action or state of remaining suspended or lingering.

- The constant hovering of the drone made the neighbors feel uncomfortable.
- The persistent hovering of the press corps outside the hospital gates created a difficult environment for the arriving staff.

### 4. staying close to a level

adjective · CEFR B2

staying very close to a certain number or level without changing much.

For teachers: remaining at or near a particular level, value, or state of being.

- The temperature has been hovering around freezing all day.
- With inflation hovering just above the target rate, the central bank decided to keep interest rates steady for another month.

## Examples

- The hovering bird stayed perfectly still in the wind.
- I found the hovering presence of the waiter a bit distracting while I was trying to read the menu.
- The drone remained hovering above the forest canopy, its high-resolution cameras capturing every movement of the herd below without disturbing their natural behavior.

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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.