hook

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: a curved or bent device for catching, holding, or pulling
b
: something intended to attract and ensnare
2
: something curved or bent like a hook
especially, hooks plural : fingers
3
: a flight or course of a ball that deviates from straight in a direction opposite to the dominant hand of the player propelling it
also : a ball following such a course compare slice
4
: a short blow delivered with a circular motion by a boxer while the elbow remains bent and rigid
5
6
7
: quick or summary removal
used with get or give
the pitcher got the hook after giving up three runs
8
: a device especially in music or writing that catches the attention
9
: a selling point or marketing scheme
10

hook

2 of 2

verb

hooked; hooking; hooks

transitive verb

1
: to form into a hook : crook
2
a
: to seize or make fast by or as if by a hook
b
: to connect by or as if by a hook
It … comes with a detachable carabiner for hooking it to whatever you want …Tyler Lacoma
Fortunately, it isn't hard to hook your computer to your TV.Kim Comando
often used with up
We didn't have the opportunity to hook up a trailer, so we can't comment on braking under serious load.Jeremy Korzeniewski
It lets you hook up your phone to a bigger screen and use a mouse and keyboard.Joanna Stern
3
4
: to make (something, such as a rug) by drawing loops of yarn, thread, or cloth through a coarse fabric with a hook
5
: to hit or throw (a ball) so that a hook results

intransitive verb

1
: to form a hook : curve
2
: to become hooked
3
: to work as a prostitute
Phrases
by hook or by crook
: by any means
off the hook
1
: out of trouble
2
: free of responsibility or accountability
on one's own hook
: by oneself : independently

Examples of hook in a Sentence

Noun She hit a hook into the left rough. He threw a right hook to his opponent's body. Verb The train cars were hooked together. My sweater was hooked on a branch. I hooked the door shut. The dress hooks in the back. The two parts hooked together. He hooked a large fish. He hooked his arm around my neck. She hooked her fingers around the doorknob. He hooked his thumb through a loop of his pants.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The options included Dupuy and Pendleton but left out hooks, one of the parents’ main suggestions. Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2024 Product Details: Attachments: Dough hook, whisk, flat beater, pouring shield | Wattage: 575 watts | Bowl Size: 7 quarts | Dimensions: 16.5 x 11.25 x 14.5 inches The 13 Best Refrigerators to Keep Your Food Fresh Best Mini Kitchenaid Artisan Mini Plus 3.5-Qt. Laura Denby, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Mar. 2024 But therein lies the charm of that opening hook in the hands of Mirwas, whose otherworldly production here is absolutely brilliant. Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 10 Mar. 2024 These lures, however, come factory equipped with two or three treble hooks. Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 7 Mar. 2024 This behavior is often triggered by the stress of capture, especially in hook and line fisheries, where the hook itself may act as a stimulus for eversion. Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 The scene took two months to film, with a second unit needed to execute with gyrating platforms, grapple hooks and blowing desert sand (the whole scene was shot in the desert with sunlight; nothing was made on stage). Diego Ramos Bechara, Variety, 2 Mar. 2024 But that doesn’t let taxpayers off the hook for tax year 2023 (or any year). Tara Siegel Bernard, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2024 The new song is full of one-liners, has no hook, and is a departure from her pristine Top 40 singles — and a moment for Saweetie to get real and raw. Lakin Imani Starling, Allure, 29 Feb. 2024
Verb
What hooks viewers are the family dynamics but perhaps also just the Maine of it all. Olivia McCormack, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2024 Cybersecurity experts have warned that indiscriminately hooking third-party apps up to health system networks could expose sensitive data to hackers as ransomware attacks surge, and regulators and industry groups are rushing to set standards for responsible AI use. Mohana Ravindranath, STAT, 18 Mar. 2024 Fort Worth zoned the 9.39 acres of untouched land hooking around the store for commercial use. Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Mar. 2024 Beat sugar, yeast, cardamom, salt, and 2 cups of the flour with a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment on low speed until well combined, about 30 seconds. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2024 Fans of travel, humor, and culinary adventure can jump into any season of Somebody Feed Phil and instantly get hooked. Travis Bean, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 Austin, Texas One visit to Austin, and you'll be hooked (no pun intended). Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 And from the sound of it, with a lifetime of experience under her belt, little Evelyn is hooked. Alexandra Schonfeld, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024 In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine the eggs and buttermilk. Yewande Komolafe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hook.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hōc; akin to Middle Dutch hoec fishhook, corner, Lithuanian kengė hook

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hook was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near hook

Cite this Entry

“Hook.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hook. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hook

1 of 2 noun
1
: a curved or bent tool for catching, holding, or pulling
2
: something curved or bent
3
: the flight of a ball curving to the left when hit or thrown by a right-hander or to the right when hit or thrown by a left-hander
4
: a short sweeping punch made with the elbow bent
5
: cradle entry 1 sense 6
left the phone off the hook

hook

2 of 2 verb
1
: to form into a hook : crook, curve
2
a
: to seize, make fast, or connect by or as if by a hook
b
: to become secured or connected by or as if by a hook
3
4
: to make by drawing loops of thread, yarn, or cloth through a coarse fabric with a hook
hook a rug
5
: to hit or throw a ball so that a hook results

Medical Definition

hook

noun
1
: an instrument used in surgery to take hold of tissue
a crypt hook
a cordotomy hook
2
: an anatomical part that resembles a hook

More from Merriam-Webster on hook

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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