hug

UK: /ˈhʌg/ US: /hʌg/ ,(hug)

Inflections of 'hug' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

hugs

v 3rd person singular

hugging

v pres p

hugged

v past

hugged

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

hug /hʌg/   v., hugged, hug•ging, n. 
v. 

1. to hold or clasp tightly in the arms;
   embrace: [~ + object]
   to hug one's child.
   [no object]
   They were hugging and crying.
2. to keep close to:
   [~ + object] The boat hugged the shore.

n. [countable]

3. a tight clasp with the arms;
   embrace.

hug•ger, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

hug  (hug), v., hugged, hug•ging, n. 
v.t. 

1. to clasp tightly in the arms, esp. with affection;
   embrace.
2. to cling firmly or fondly to;
   cherish:
   to hug an opinion.
3. to keep close to, as in sailing, walking, or in moving along or alongside of:
   to hug the shore; to hug the road.

v.i. 

4. to cling together;
   lie close.

n. 

5. a tight clasp with the arms;
   embrace.

• Old Norse hugga to soothe, console; akin to Old English hogian to care for
• perh. 1560–70

hug′ger, n. 
hug′ging•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

hug / hʌɡ/ verb (hugs, hugging, hugged)(mainly tr)

1. (also intr) to clasp (another person or thing) tightly or (of two people) to cling close together; embrace
2. to keep close to a shore, kerb, etc
3. to cling to (beliefs, etc); cherish
4. to congratulate (oneself); be delighted with (oneself)

noun

1. a tight or fond embrace

Etymology: 16th Century: probably of Scandinavian origin; related to Old Norse hugga to comfort, Old English hogian to take care of

ˈhuggable adjective