Hook — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈhu̇k/

Meaning & Definition of Hook

Hook (noun)

  1. a curved or bent device for catching, holding, or pulling
  2. something intended to attract and ensnare
  3. anchor

Hook (verb)

  1. to form into a hook, crook
  2. to seize or make fast by or as if by a hook
  3. to connect by or as if by a hook —often used with up

Hook (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument

    "delivered a hard right hook that struck his opponent in the eye"

    similar: bang, bash, bat, beat, belt, biff, blow, bop, box, buffet, bust, chop, clap, clip, clout, crack, cuff, dab, douse (British), fillip, hack, haymaker, hit, knock, larrup (dialect), lash, lick, pelt, pick, plump, poke, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slug, smack, smash, sock, spank, stinger, stripe, stroke, swat, swipe, switch, thud, thump, thwack, wallop, welt, whack, wham, whop
    related: counter, counterblow, counterpunch, counterstroke, body blow, hand, kick, knee, left, one-two, rabbit punch, right, right-hander, roundhouse, shiver, sidewinder, sucker punch, swing, uppercut, cruncher, kayo, knockdown, knockout, KO, bastinado, battering, beating, bludgeoning, clobbering, cudgeling, drubbing, hammering, lambasting, licking, pasting, pounding, pummeling, thrashing, flogging, walloping, whip, whipping

Hook (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to cause to turn away from a straight line

    "the pitcher hooked the ball, and the batter missed"

    similar: arch, bend, bow, crook, curve, swerve
    related: arc, round, incurvate, incurve, inflect, reflect, deflect, divert, entwine, kink, swirl, turn, twine, twist, veer, warp, coil, curl, enroll, loop, spiral, dent, dimple, meander, wave, weave, wind, decline, incline, slope
    opposite: straighten, unbend, uncurl

  2. to put or bring together so as to form a new and longer whole

    "hooked up three short chains together to make a longer necklace"

    similar: catenate, chain, compound, concatenate, conjugate, connect, couple, hitch, interconnect, interlink, join, link, yoke
    related: articulate, dovetail, integrate, interlock, intermesh, cord, string, wire, cement, coalesce, combine, fuse, unite, weld
    opposite: disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissever, disunite, separate, unchain, uncouple, unhitch, unlink, unyoke
    near: detach, disengage, divide, part, split, cleave, rupture, sever, sunder

  3. to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep

    "the monkey hooked four bananas from the basket and scampered away to enjoy them"

    similar: appropriate, boost (slang), filch, heist, lift, misappropriate, nick (British slang), nip, pilfer, pinch, pocket, purloin, rip off, snitch, steal, swipe, thieve, make away with, make off with, run off with, walk off with
    related: burglarize, knock over, rob, loot, pillage, plunder, sack, carjack, hijack, pick, rifle, poach, rustle, shoplift, collar, grab, grasp, nail, seize, snatch, take, mooch, sponge, abduct, kidnap, shanghai, spirit
    near: buy, purchase, bestow, contribute, donate, give, hand over, present

  4. to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly

    "I hooked the biggest fish of the day, and then released it"

    similar: bag, capture, catch, collar, cop (slang), corral, get, glom, grab, grapple, land, nab, nail, net, nobble (British slang), rap, seize, snag, snap (up), snare, snatch, trap, take hold (of)
    related: glove, halter, lasso, rope, apprehend, arrest, detain, bay, corner, clasp, clutch, fasten (on), fist, grasp, grip, hold, latch (on or onto), secure, rend, wrest, enmesh, ensnare, entangle, entrap, mesh, abduct, kidnap, spirit (away or off)
    opposite: miss
    near: discharge, free, liberate, release, drop, loosen, unhand

  5. to turn away from a straight line or course

    "hang the bird feeder on a branch that hooks upward"

    similar: arc, arch, bend, bow, crook, curve, fall off, round, sweep, swerve, trend, wheel
    related: circle, coil, curlicue, curl, loop, spiral, turn, twist, wind, deviate, veer
    opposite: straighten

Related Entry: Hook up (verb)

Hook up is a different word from Hook. The synonyms below are for hook up, not for hook.

  1. to come or be together as friends

    "former classmates who hooked up and started a business together"

    similar: associate, chum, company, consociate, consort, fraternize, hang (around or out), hobnob, mess around, pal (around), run, sort, travel, be friends with, fall in with, keep company (with), rub elbows (with), take up with
    related: affiliate, ally, attach, band, bond, club, collaborate, collude, confederate, conjoin, connect, cooperate, couple, gang, get along, get on, group, interrelate, join, knot, league, link, mingle, mix, rally, relate, side, socialize, team, tie, wed, befriend, friend
    near: avoid, cold-shoulder, shun, snub, alienate, estrange, break up, disband, disperse, split (up), disjoin, dissociate, disunite, divorce, sever, split, sunder

Related Entry: Hook up (with) (verb)

Hook up (with) is a different word from Hook. The synonyms below are for hook up (with), not for hook.

  1. as in take

    similar: take, befriend, latch (on or onto)
    opposite: blow off, break off (with), ditch, dump, jilt, kiss off, leave, brush (aside or off), cold-shoulder, cut, high-hat, slight, snub, abandon, desert, forsake, maroon, quit

Related Entry: On one's own hook (phrase)

On one's own hook is a different word from Hook. The synonyms below are for on one's own hook, not for hook.

  1. without aid or support

    "He managed to build a successful business on his own hook."

    similar: alone, independently, single-handed, single-handedly, singly, solely, unaided, unassisted, by one's own bootstraps, on one's own, on one's own initiative
    related: individually, separately, solo
    near: collectively, conjointly, cooperatively, hand in glove, hand in hand, jointly, mutually, together, en masse

Related Entry: Ring (verb)

Ring is a different word from Hook. The synonyms below are for ring, not for hook.

  1. to form a circle around

    "tall cypress trees ringing the park"

    similar: circle, compass, embrace, encircle, enclose, encompass, environ, gird, girdle, surround, wreathe
    related: circumscribe, close in, cordon (off), fence (in), hem (in), wall, beset, besiege, entrench, invest, swarm

  2. to travel completely around

    "the line of season ticket buyers ringed the block"

    similar: circle, circuit, circumnavigate, circumvent, compass, encircle, girdle, orbit, round
    related: circumambulate, cross, perambulate, traverse

Related Entry: Ring (verb)

Ring is a different word from Hook. The synonyms below are for ring, not for hook.

  1. to make the clear sound heard when metal vibrates

    "I didn't hear the doorbell ring"

    similar: bong, chime, knell, peal, toll
    related: chink, clang, clank, clash, clink, ding, ding-dong, gong, jangle, jingle, ping, plink, plunk, tang, tingle, tinkle, echo, resonate, resound, reverberate

Related Entry: Ring (up) (verb)

Ring (up) is a different word from Hook. The synonyms below are for ring (up), not for hook.

  1. to make a telephone call to

    "our friend rang us up to see if we wanted to go to a cricket match"

    similar: call, dial, phone, telephone
    related: beep, buzz, call in, cold-call

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Hook

The most common words with a similar meaning to Hook:

Slang: boost, cop
British slang: nick, nobble
British: douse
Dialect: larrup
bang, bash, bat, beat, belt, biff, blow, bop, box, buffet, bust, chop, clap, clip, clout, crack, cuff, dab, fillip, hack, haymaker, hit, knock, lash, lick, pelt, pick, plump, poke, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slug, smack, smash, sock, spank, stinger

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Hook

Words with the opposite meaning of Hook:

straighten, unbend, uncurl, disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissever, disunite, separate, unchain, uncouple, unhitch, unlink, unyoke, miss

Related Words for Hook

counter, counterblow, counterpunch, counterstroke, body blow, hand, kick, knee, left, one-two, rabbit punch, right, right-hander, roundhouse, shiver, sidewinder, sucker punch, swing, uppercut, cruncher, kayo, knockdown, knockout, KO, bastinado, battering, beating, bludgeoning, clobbering, cudgeling

Near Antonyms of Hook

detach, disengage, divide, part, split, cleave, rupture, sever, sunder, buy, purchase, bestow, contribute, donate, give, hand over, present, discharge, free, liberate, release, drop, loosen, unhand

Word Forms of Hook

Inflections: hooked, hooking, hooks

Origin & Etymology of Hook

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

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Hook

Words & Phrases Containing Hook

hook and eye, hook and ladder truck, hook check, hook, line and sinker, hook shot, hook up, hook into

Frequently Asked Questions about Hook

What does "Hook" mean?

"Hook" means a curved or bent device for catching, holding, or pulling. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a curved or bent device for catching, holding, or pulling. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Hook"?

Other words for "Hook" include bang, bash, bat, beat, belt, biff, blow and bop. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Hook" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Hook"?

There are 255 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Hook". Common alternatives include bang, bash, bat, beat, belt, biff, blow, bop, box and buffet.

What is a slang word for "Hook"?

Slang words for "Hook" include boost, cop, nick and nobble.

What is the opposite of "Hook"?

Antonyms of "Hook" include straighten, unbend, uncurl, disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissever and disunite. Near antonyms include detach, disengage, divide and part.

How do you use "Hook" in a sentence?

Examples of "Hook" in a sentence: "delivered a hard right hook that struck his opponent in the eye"; "the pitcher hooked the ball, and the batter missed"; "hooked up three short chains together to make a longer necklace".

Is "Hook" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Hook" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Hook" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Hook" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.