The definition of hooking up may vary from person to person. No matter how you define it, it’s good to think about your expectations, safety and having fun.
In general, hooking up means being intimate/sexual with someone without being in a committed relationship with them. It may also be called “a one-night stand” or “casual sex.” Hookups may be a one-time thing or something that happens more than once with the same person/people. The choice to hook up is completely up to you.
Why do people hook up?
People may hook up for different reasons. Some people may choose to hook up because:
- they want to have new/different sexual experiences
- they want to explore their sexuality
- they want to see if they have sexual chemistry with someone
- they want to start a relationship with someone
- they want to feel close/connected to someone
- they just want to have sex!
What do I need to know about hooking up?
Hooking up can be a positive experience, but it can also come with some challenges. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Expectations: what are you hoping may happen as a result of a hookup? Are you looking for something short or long term? For example, if you want a relationship with a person you’re hooking up with, how will you feel if they’re only interested in something more casual? Or what if a person you’re hooking up with wants something more serious than you do? It’s a good idea to talk about what each person wants before engaging in a hookup. This way, you’ll be on the same page and ready to have fun together.
- Pressure: some people hook up because it seems like everyone else is doing it. If you feel pressured [e.g. by friends, your partner[s], etc.], you can take some time to think about what you want. Talking it out with someone you trust can also help you make the best decision for yourself.
- Your limits: share what you are/aren’t comfortable doing with your partner[s]. It’s always OK for someone involved in a hookup to say “no” or to change their mind at any point.
- Your preferences: hooking up is supposed to feel good and be enjoyable for everyone who participates. You can talk with your partner about your likes/dislikes when it comes to being intimate.
- A backup: tell someone you trust about where you’ll be and who you’ll be with. If you feel uncomfortable, call them for backup. You could also ask them to contact you at a certain time to make sure you’re OK. If you feel unsafe and need immediate help, you can call 911 or the emergency services in your area.
- Protection: consider how you’ll practise safer sex and protect yourself against sexually transmitted infections [STIs] and unplanned pregnancy [if applicable]. You can talk to your partner[s] to learn more about your sexual health/histories. This can help you make an informed decision about how to proceed.
- Consent: when engaging in any type of sexual activity, it’s important to get enthusiastic consent from everyone involved throughout the activity. Consent needs to be given through words and actions [e.g. a verbal “yes” and an eager nod]. Remember, if someone doesn’t respect your boundaries, it’s OK to take some time to consider if this is a person you want to hook up with.
Hooking up can be fun and exciting, and it’s important to put your safety first. If you have questions about hooking up and protecting yourself, you can reach out to a safe adult or a sexual health clinic.
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The arena sits in a county park, 40 acres donated by the timber industry, with a softball field and 80 recreational vehicle hookup sites. —Aaron Gettinger, arkansasonline.com, 28 Nov. 2023 The solo bathroom includes a television hookup for the shower, so games can be watched while showering. —Angelica Stabile, Fox News, 29 Oct. 2023 Still, Costco offers other perks such as free delivery and haul away and free basic hookup, says Stanger. —Laura Daily, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2023 While dating apps appear to offer a seemingly endless supply of potential dates, questions remain about their ability to spark long-term meaningful relationships over hookups and casual encounters. —Anna-Katherine Ping, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2023 With millions of daily users and a global presence, Grindr provides an easy way to meet new romantic interests—usually quick, casual encounters and hookups. —Tianna Soto, Glamour, 28 Aug. 2023 These typically have a lot of the same services [like flush toilets, electric hookups, and showers] as national park campgrounds, and are less competitive to book. —Laura Lancaster, Outdoor Life, 19 Oct. 2023 The site is called Soul Mates, and Allison and Jason, trapped in a brackish green industrial maze, are about to go through a hookup from hell. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 18 Oct. 2023 The campground has motor-home hookups and glamping tents, as well as a restaurant, and offers activities that include foraging tours. —Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 10 Sep. 2023
So when he was spotted hooking up in a hot tub in 2020, it was seen as a flagrant breach of sociopolitical trust. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2023 This should mean a peak charge rate of up to 350 kW when hooked up to a sufficiently powerful charger. —Alistair Charlton, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023 On Tuesday, Courteney Cox revisited a fan favorite: The moment where the audience found out that Chandler and Monica had hooked up in London [Season 4 finale]. —Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 15 Nov. 2023 Over 120 banks and credit unions are hooked up to the FedNow service, according to the Federal Reserve. —Kristin Broughton, WSJ, 2 Nov. 2023 The stench of ammonia hooks up with sulfur to form droplets that coalesce into dense clouds, reflecting the sun. —Amy Brady, Scientific American, 17 Oct. 2023 In February 2019, news broke that Tristan had hooked up with Jordyn. —Joelle Goldstein, Peoplemag, 16 Nov. 2023 For instance, sometimes communities living on the fringe of the forest hook up their horses to central sources of electricity, and elephants get accidentally tangled in them on their passage. —Sofia Quaglia, Discover Magazine, 30 Oct. 2023 In a cruel irony, its legal status means the houses here are not hooked up to the grid. —Loveday Morris, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2023 These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hookup.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.