hub

noun

ˈhəb 

1

: the central part of a circular object (such as a wheel or propeller)

spokes attached to the hub of the wheel

2

a

: a center of activity : focal point

The island is a major tourist hub.

b

: an airport or city through which an airline routes most of its traffic

c

: a central device that connects multiple computers on a single network (see network entry 1 sense 3b)

3

: a steel punch from which a working die (see die entry 2 sense 3a) for a coin or medal is made

Synonyms of hub

• center
• mecca
• capital
• focus

Examples of hub in a Sentence

the hub of the city

She was at the hub of all the activity.

All of the airline's coast-to-coast flights pass through its hub.

The spokes attach to the hub of the wheel.

Recent Examples on the Web

Isaias was expected to miss the oil industry's biggest hubs along the Gulf Coast, but fuel prices could rise if power outages shut down refineries for processing crude, industry experts said. — Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026

Its ownership can be transferred to a new customer when selling it on secondhand platforms such as Vinted and Vestiaire Collective or Spin’s own peer-to-peer resale hub. — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026

Khan, whose estate has not become an AI hub in the way that London’s King’s Cross district has, says there’s no sign yet that AI will empty Canary Wharf of its white-collar workers. — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026

The two other hires for the Iberia hub are Carlos Méndez, who serves as head of programming, and Cristina Miquel as head of marketing. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

probably alteration of hob entry 2

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hub

• hub-and-spoke

Rhymes for hub

• bub
• club
• cub
• dub
• grub
• nub
• pub
• rub
• scrub
• shrub
• snub
• stub

Kids Definition

hub

noun

ˈhəb 

1

: the central part of a circular object (as a wheel)

2

: a center of activity

Medical Definition

hub

noun

ˈhəb 

: the enlarged base by which a hollow needle may be attached to a device (as a syringe)