hug

Meaning

Noun

1. A close embrace, especially when charged with an emotion such as affection, joy, relief, lust, anger, aggression, compassion, and the like, as opposed to being characterized by formality, equivocation or ambivalence (a half-embrace or "little hug").
2. A particular grip in wrestling.

Verb

1. (obsolete) To crouch; to huddle as with cold.
2. To cling closely together.
3. To embrace by holding closely, especially in the arms.
4. To stay close to.
5. To hold fast; to cling to; to cherish.

Synonyms

embrace

cuddle

squeeze

clasp

caress

hold

enfold

fondle

hold in one’s arms

carry in arms

stroke

press

bosom

grasp

carry

clinch

cherish

chuck

embrance

encircle

hugging

pet

snuggle

wrestle

hold tight

bearhug

embrace tightly

girdle

crush

crowd

hold fast

hold up

huddle

hold with arms

nestle

nuzzle

hold tightly

possess

clog

press out

prise

push

ream

rule

seize

skirt

take in one’s bosom

cling to

squeeze out

strain

support

cover eggs

twinge

twitch

wad

barney

wring

take in one's arms

pounce on

clamp

🗜️

hold in the arms

holding in one’s arms

clasp to one’s breast

brood

hatch eggs

embracing

fold in one’s arns

put one's arms

embracement

entwine

express

extract

follow

draw

Pronounced as (IPA)

/hʌɡ/

Etymology

From earlier hugge (“to embrace, clasp with the arms”) (1560), probably representing a conflation of huck (“to crouch, huddle down”) and Old Norse hugga (“to comfort, console”), from hugr (“mind, heart, thought”), from Proto-Germanic *hugiz (“mind, thought, sense”), cognate with Icelandic hugga (“to comfort”), Old English hyġe (“thought”) (whence high (Etymology 2)).