English Reference

Word

hugging

Phoneticshug·ging

US/ˈhəɡɪŋ/

UK/hˈʌɡɪŋ/

Definition

n. the act of putting your arms around someone to show you care about them.

n. the physical act of embracing another person, typically as a sign of affection, comfort, or greeting.

Examples

“The children love hugging their grandparents when they arrive.”

“After years of being apart, the two friends spent several minutes hugging at the airport gate.”

“Research suggests that frequent hugging can reduce stress levels by releasing oxytocin, a hormone associated with social bonding and emotional security.”

Examples

simple

“The children love hugging their grandparents when they arrive.”

contextual

“After years of being apart, the two friends spent several minutes hugging at the airport gate.”

complex

“Research suggests that frequent hugging can reduce stress levels by releasing oxytocin, a hormone associated with social bonding and emotional security.”

Synonyms

Word family

hugVerbhuggingNoun

This entry

Level
A2 · Elementary
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/hugging

English Reference