to hug

Examples

• All

• I never thought I'd be this happy to hug you.

  Book Club: The Next Chapter (2023)

• I'll kiss you and hug you.

  The Jazz Singer (1927)

• Listen to them, kiss them, and hug them while you can stop.

• I just had to hug them.

  Tim Kochis: Purple Heart (2013)

• Let's hug it out. Let's hug it out.

  Evan Carmichael

• I'd like to hug you... would that be all right?

  L.U.N.A. (2021)

• Look at these two and then hug your spouse, your children.

  Megyn Kelly

• Christina's parents could not stop hugging her, holding her, telling her how wonderful she was.

  Fiction book (1990)

• The children ran in from recess, holding hands and hugging their new friends.

  Academic text (1996)

• She reached out to hug her best friend tightly after such a long time apart.

Synonyms

E

to embrace

vsto hug

142 2.8

To hold someone tightly to show affection

is the common affectionate arm hold used in everyday situations

C

to cuddle

vsto hug

72 1.0

Holding someone close in your arms to show love or comfort

is usually a firmer, clearly affectionate arm hold rather than casual closeness

S

to squeeze

vsto hug

72 1.0

To hold someone tightly in your arms to show affection

is similar but typically gentler and more neutral in strength

W

to wrap arms around

vsto hug

38 2.8

To put your arms around someone or something to show love and protect them

is more generally used for affection without strong protectiveness

C

to clasp

vsto hug

33 2.6

To hold a person or thing tightly with your hands

is more about a warm affectionate arm hold than just gripping

C

to cuddle with

vsto hug

5 2.3

To hold someone or a soft thing close to show love

is the typical physical expression of that love, often tighter and brief

H

to hold close

vsto hug

1 1.4

Keep a person or thing tightly against your body

focuses on affectionate closeness rather than only firm security

E

to exchange hugs

vsto hug

• Informal

1 1.0

To hug each other as a greeting or when saying goodbye

is the single-person affectionate arm hold rather than a mutual ritual

F

to fall on someone's neck

vsto hug

7.2

Hug someone tightly because you feel very happy or relieved

is a regular affectionate hold rather than a highly emotional embrace

Antonyms

L

to let go

∞ 1.4

To stop holding something or someone so they are free

W

to withdraw

466 2.8

To stop taking part in a place or activity

Compounds

B

bear hug

9 3.0

A very strong, tight hold with your arms around someone

B

bear hug

• Jargon

1 8.1

An offer to buy a company at a very high price that its directors feel they must accept

B

bunny hug

• Archaic

9.9

A lively ballroom dance popular in the United States in the early 1900s

B

bunny hug

• Informal

9.2

A warm, comforting embrace someone gives to show care

H

hug drug

• NSFW

9.9

A drug taken at parties that makes people feel more friendly and loving

H

hug-a-hoodie

9.1

A very large, thick sweatshirt you wear to feel warm and cozy

H

hug-me-tight

• Archaic

9.9

A short tight jacket for women worn in the 1800s

O

open-armed hug

2.5

A warm welcome you give by opening your arms to hold someone

W

wombly hug

• Informal

9.9

A warm, soft embrace that makes you feel safe and cozy

How Affectionate

to embrace

142 2.8

to hug

336 1.0

to hold

∞ 1.0

to pat

110 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology