To hover means to stay in one place in the air without moving forward, backward, up, or down. A hummingbird hovers in front of a flower while drinking nectar, its wings beating so fast they blur. A helicopter can hover above a landing spot, hanging motionless in the sky while the pilot searches for a safe place to touch down.

Drones hover when their pilots hold them steady to take a photograph. In science fiction movies, flying cars often hover above the ground, waiting at red lights just like regular cars.

The word also describes staying near someone or something in a way that feels watchful or clingy. When someone hovers over you while you're doing homework, they stand too close, watching every move you make. Parents sometimes hover over young children at the playground, staying so near that the kids can't explore freely. This kind of hovering can feel protective or smothering, depending on what's needed. A helicopter parent gets that nickname precisely because they hover constantly over their children.

You might also hover near the snack table at a party, lingering nearby while you decide what to try, or hover in a doorway when you're not sure whether to enter a room.