hug

hug — verb

1. to wrap your arms around someone or something and pull them toward you, which si

1.verbtransitiveA2
Definition

to wrap your arms around someone or something and pull them toward you, which signals that you like them or want to comfort them

Example

Christopher hugged his mother tightly before boarding the train to Tokyo.

transitive: hug + direct object (person)

After the match ended, the winning team hugged one another in celebration.

Common collocations
  • hug someone tightly
  • hug someone goodbye
  • hug someone goodnight
  • hug a pet
  • hug a pillow
Synonyms
  • embrace

    more formal than 'hug'; often used in written or literary contexts

  • cuddle

    suggests a longer, softer, more affectionate hug, often while sitting or lying down

  • squeeze

    emphasizes tight pressure, often quick or playful

Antonyms
  • push away

    to move someone away from you instead of holding them close

Grammar Patterns

hug + noun phrase (person, pet, or object)

Usage Note

Frequently transitive. The direct object is usually a person or a pet. This sense does not take a preposition — you hug someone, not hug with someone.

Common Mistakes

She hugged with her friend at the airport.
She hugged her friend at the airport.
'hug' is transitive and takes a direct object without a preposition.
He hugged her strong.
He hugged her tightly.
'tightly' is the correct adverb; 'strong' is an adjective.

2. to keep very close to the side of something while moving alongside it, or to fit

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to keep very close to the side of something while moving alongside it, or to fit closely around the shape of a person or object

Example

The small fishing boat hugged the coastline to stay safe from the rough waves.

hug + coastline (following a path)

Her new silk dress hugged her figure perfectly and made her feel elegant.

clothing + hugs + body (tight fit)

Common collocations
  • hug the coast
  • hug the wall
  • hug the curve
  • hug the road
  • dress hugs the body
  • skirt hugs the waist
Synonyms
  • cling to

    suggests holding on tightly, often because of fear or need

  • follow

    less vivid; simply means to go along without the sense of closeness

  • skirt

    similar meaning of moving along the edge of something, but with less physical closeness

Grammar Patterns

object + hugs + surface/path

clothing + hugs + body

Usage Note

The subject is often an item of clothing, a road, a path, or a moving object. For the 'fitting tightly' sub-meaning, the subject is typically an article of clothing describing a close, flattering fit.

Common Mistakes

The dress hugs on her body.
The dress hugs her body.
this sense is transitive; no preposition is needed.

3. to hold a belief, hope, memory, or pleasant idea close in your mind and not shar

3.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to hold a belief, hope, memory, or pleasant idea close in your mind and not share it with others, because it gives you comfort or satisfaction

Example

Antonia hugged the memory of her grandmother's warm kitchen long after she moved away.

abstract object: memory / belief / hope

Despite the criticism from his colleagues, Mert hugged the belief that his plan would work.

Common collocations
  • hug a belief
  • hug a hope
  • hug a memory
  • hug a dream
  • hug an idea
  • hug a conviction
Synonyms
  • cherish

    similar in meaning but does not imply secrecy; cherish can be openly expressed

  • nurse

    suggests keeping a feeling alive over time, often a grievance or ambition

  • hold dear

    more general; can apply to both people and abstract things

Antonyms
  • abandon

    to give up a belief or hope completely

Grammar Patterns

hug + abstract noun (a belief, a hope, a memory, a dream)

Usage Note

The direct object is always an abstract noun such as a feeling, belief, memory, or hope. This sense is formal and literary, often found in written narratives rather than everyday speech.

Common Mistakes

She hugged a new car in her heart.
She hugged the hope of owning a car one day.
the object must be an abstract idea, not a concrete object.

hug — noun

Word family

  • hugged
    verb (past tense)A2
  • hugging
    verb (present participle)A2
  • hugs
    verb (third person singular)A2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe holding someone with your arms, but they differ in intensity and context. 'Hug' is the most common everyday word — you hug friends and family when greeting them or saying goodbye. 'Embrace' is more formal and literary; it suggests a deliberate, often symbolic act of holding someone, common in news reports or wedding vows. 'Cuddle' implies a longer, softer, more tender hold, usually while sitting or lying down, and often involves stroking or gentle movement — couples cuddle on the sofa; parents cuddle young children. 'Squeeze' focuses on tight pressure and is often quick or playful — a brief squeeze can say 'I'm proud of you' without the length of a full hug. 'Clasp' is the least common and suggests holding firmly with hands rather than arms, often in a formal gesture like clasping someone's hand or shoulders.

embrace ↗cuddlesqueeze ↗clasp

Common collocations

Nouns

  • bear hug
  • group hug

Adverbs

Phrases

  • give someone a hug
  • get a hug from
  • need a hug

Prepositions

  • into a hug
  • in a hug

Etymology

Old NorseEnglish

The exact origins of 'hug' are uncertain, but it is believed to come from the Old Norse word 'hugga', meaning 'to comfort'. The word first appeared in English during the 1500s, and its core meaning of holding someone close for comfort or affection has remained remarkably stable over the centuries.