hover in place

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hover in place" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an object or entity that remains suspended or stationary in a specific location, often in the context of technology or aviation. Example: "The drone was able to hover in place, capturing stunning aerial footage without any movement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Tech

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

It can hover in place, spin 360 degrees and land as lightly as a butterfly.

The New York Times

Often described as living helicopters, hummingbirds have adaptations of musculature, wing shape and metabolism that let them hover in place and make their other unusual flying patterns possible.

The New York Times

The view may hover in place, or it may move to stomach-lurching effect as if you were looking down from a helicopter.

The New York Times - Arts

In any case, a helicopter generally only holds enough fuel to hover in place for 45 minutes or so -- and with 40 days in the Outback, time was one thing Burnett had in abundance.

The New York Times - Magazine

These include hover in place, face and body recognition and following, and 360 pano recording.

TechCrunch

But when the connection drops the drone will just hover in place so you can walk closer and reconnect the WiFi.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Yet for all the inner activity, the music just hovers in place and shimmers in sound.

The New York Times - Arts

Groves of slender aspens swayed in the wind, their leaves flickering like rabbles of butterflies hovering in place.

The New York Times - Travel

I began to tread water with the oar, hovering in place, something I'd seen gondoliers do but didn't know I could do.

The New Yorker

If you find a light hovering in place, that means there's one to activate manually, by tilting the controller to make the light move left and right until it hits the right spot.

The Guardian - Tech

Those owners will wear a tracking device to ensure that Lily follows them, with the device hovering in place and trying to recover the signal if it loses the wearer, before landing "smoothly" – an action also taken if it runs out of battery.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing technological capabilities, such as drones or robots, use "hover in place" to clearly indicate the ability to maintain a fixed position without moving.

Common error

Avoid using "hover in place" when you simply mean something is moving slowly or generally staying in an area. "Hover in place" specifically denotes a stationary position in mid-air or a similar medium, not general proximity or slow movement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hover in place" functions as a verb phrase that describes the action of remaining stationary in a suspended position. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use to describe the capabilities of drones, robots, and even the movements of hummingbirds.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Tech

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hover in place" is a grammatically correct and relatively common way to describe the act of remaining stationary while suspended, particularly in air. As Ludwig AI suggests, it is frequently used in news and media contexts to describe the capabilities of drones, robots, and animals like hummingbirds. While similar phrases like "remain stationary" or "stay in position" exist, "hover in place" specifically implies a suspended state. Therefore, using it incorrectly may affect the clarity and accuracy of your descriptions. Because it is already very clear, it's only necessary to add "in place" when you want to eliminate any ambiguity about movement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remain stationary

Focuses on the lack of movement rather than the act of hovering.

stay in position

Emphasizes maintaining a specific location without necessarily hovering.

suspend in mid-air

Highlights the suspension aspect, suitable when air is the medium.

float motionlessly

Combines floating with a lack of motion, implying a lighter suspension.

remain suspended

Focuses on the state of being suspended, implying an external force is acting.

hang motionless

Suggests a suspended state with no movement, typically from a fixed point.

be in a fixed position

Indicates a stable location without implying the means of maintaining it.

stay put

An informal way of saying to remain in a current location.

stand still

Implies being in a vertical position without moving.

freeze in place

Suggests an abrupt stop and immobility, often due to fear or surprise.

FAQs

How can I use "hover in place" in a sentence?

You can use "hover in place" to describe an object or entity that remains suspended or stationary in a specific location. For example, "The drone was able to "hover in place", capturing stunning aerial footage without any movement."

What are some alternatives to "hover in place"?

Some alternatives include "remain stationary", "stay in position", or "suspend in mid-air" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "hover in place"? Is "hover" enough?

While "hover" itself implies staying aloft, "hover in place" emphasizes immobility and can be useful for clarity, especially when distinguishing from other types of hovering that involve movement.

What kind of objects or entities can "hover in place"?

"Hover in place" is typically used to describe objects or entities like drones, helicopters, hummingbirds, or robots that have the ability to maintain a fixed position in the air or a similar medium.