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⇱ bear hug - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

bear hug

US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(bâr′hug′)

Inflections of 'bear hug' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
bear-hugs
v 3rd person singular
bear-hugging
v pres p
bear-hugged
v past
bear-hugged
v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
ˈbear ˌhug, n. [countable]
  1. a very forceful, tight hug:He gave him a bear hug that took his breath away.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
bear′ hug′, 
    1. a forcefully or heartily tight embrace.
    2. Sport[Wrestling.]a hold in which one contestant locks both arms around the other from the front in order to make the opponent fall backward.
    • 1920–25

bear-hug  (bâr′hug′),USA pronunciation v.t., -hugged, -hug•ging. 
  1. to greet with or hold in a bear hug:eager fans bear-hugging the victorious team.
  • 1955–60

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
bear hug n
  1. a wrestling hold in which the arms are locked tightly round an opponent's chest and arms
  2. any similar tight embrace
  3. an approach to the board of one company by another to indicate that an offer is to be made for their shares
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