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hang
[hang]
verb (used with object)
to fasten or attach (a thing) so that it is supported only from above or at a point near its own top; suspend.
to attach or suspend so as to allow free movement.
to hang a pendulum.
to place in position or fasten so as to allow easy or ready movement.
to put to death by suspending by the neck from a gallows, gibbet, yardarm, or the like.
to suspend (oneself) by the neck until dead.
He hanged himself from a beam in the attic.
to fasten to a cross; crucify.
to furnish or decorate with something suspended.
to hang a room with pictures.
to fasten into position; fix at a proper angle.
to hang a scythe.
to fasten or attach (wallpaper, pictures, etc.) to a wall.
to hang pictures in a room.
to suspend (something) in front of anything.
to hang curtains on a window.
Fine Arts.
to exhibit (a painting or group of paintings).
The gallery hung his paintings in a small corner.
to put the paintings of (an art exhibition) on the wall of a gallery.
They hung the show that morning.
to attach or annex as an addition.
to hang a rider on a bill.
to attach (a door or the like) to its frame by means of hinges.
to allow to droop.
He hung his head in shame.
to make (an idea, form, etc.) dependent on a situation, structure, concept, or the like, usually derived from another source.
He hung the meaning of his puns on the current political scene.
(of a juror) to keep (a jury) from rendering a verdict by refusing to agree with the others.
Digital Technology., freeze.
If a critical error hangs your operating system, you will need to reboot the computer.
Informal., to cause (a nickname, epithet, etc.) to become associated with a person.
Friends hung that nickname on him.
Slang., to hit with (a fist, blow, punch, etc.).
He hung a left on his opponent's jaw.
Baseball., to throw (a pitch) so that it fails to break, as a curve.
Nautical., to steady (a boat) in one place against a wind or current by thrusting a pole or the like into the bottom under the boat and allowing the wind or current to push the boat side-on against the pole.
(used in mild curses and emphatic expressions, often as a euphemism fordamn ).
I'll be hanged if I do. Hang it all!
verb (used without object)
to be suspended; dangle.
to swing freely, as on a hinge.
to incline downward, jut out, or lean over or forward.
The tree hung over the edge of the lake.
to be suspended by the neck, as from a gallows, and suffer death in this way.
to be crucified.
to droop or sag.
After the drastic weight loss, his skin seemed to hang from his frame.
to fit or drape in graceful lines.
That coat hangs well in back.
to be conditioned or contingent; be dependent.
His future hangs on the outcome of their discussion.
to be doubtful or undecided; waver or hesitate.
He hung between staying and going.
to remain unfinished or undecided; be delayed.
Let that matter hang until our next meeting.
to linger, remain, or persist.
He hung by her side, unwilling to leave.
to float or hover in the air.
Fog hung over the city.
to be oppressive, burdensome, or tedious.
guilt that hangs on one's conscience.
to remain in attention or consideration (often followed by on orupon ).
They hung on his every word.
Digital Technology., freeze.
That program hangs during launch, so I’ve never been able to use it.
Fine Arts.
to be exhibited.
His works hang in most major museums.
to have one's works on display.
Rembrandt hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Informal., to spend time somewhere or with someone; hang out. hangout.
noun
the way in which a thing hangs.
Informal., the precise manner of doing, using, etc., something; knack.
to get the hang of a tool.
Informal., meaning or thought.
to get the hang of a subject.
Digital Technology., freeze.
Nautical.
loss of way due to adverse wind or current.
a rake, as of a mast.
the least degree of care, concern, etc. (used in mild curses and emphatic expressions as a euphemism fordamn ).
He doesn't give a hang about those things.
verb phrase
hang on
to hold fast; cling to.
to continue with effort; persevere.
If you can hang on for a month longer, you will be eligible for the bonus.
to be sustained to the point of danger, tedium, etc..
coughs that hang on for months.
to keep a telephone line open.
Hang on, I'll see if she's here.
to wait briefly; keep calm.
hang around / about
to spend time in a certain place or in certain company.
He hangs around with an older crowd.
to linger about; loiter.
They had stopped working and were just hanging around to talk.
hang in, to persevere: Also hang in there
She has managed to hang in despite years of bad luck.
hang back
to be reluctant to proceed or move forward.
The older pupils went straight to the podium, but the younger ones hung back out of shyness.
to refrain from taking action; hesitate.
A forward pass would have been the best call, but the quarterback hung back because his last pass had been intercepted.
hang over
to remain to be settled; be postponed.
They will probably let the final decision hang over until next year.
to be imminent or foreboding; threaten.
Economic ruin hangs over the town.
hang up
to suspend by placing on a hook, peg, or hanger.
to cause or encounter delay; suspend or slow the progress of.
The accident hung up the traffic for several hours.
to break a telephone connection, as by replacing the receiver on the hook.
She received an anonymous call, but the party hung up when she threatened to call the police.
to cause a hang-up or hang-ups in.
The experience hung her up for years.
hang out., hangout.
hang
/ hæŋ /
verb
to fasten or be fastened from above, esp by a cord, chain, etc; suspend
the picture hung on the wall
to hang laundry
to place or be placed in position as by a hinge so as to allow free movement around or at the place of suspension
to hang a door
to be suspended or poised; hover
a pall of smoke hung over the city
to be imminent; threaten
(intr) to be or remain doubtful or unresolved (esp in the phrase hang in the balance )
(past tense and past participle hanged) to suspend or be suspended by the neck until dead
(tr) to fasten, fix, or attach in position or at an appropriate angle
to hang a scythe to its handle
(tr) to decorate, furnish, or cover with something suspended or fastened
to hang a wall with tapestry
(tr) to fasten to or suspend from a wall
to hang wallpaper
to exhibit (a picture or pictures) by (a particular painter, printmaker, etc) or (of a picture or a painter, etc) to be exhibited in an art gallery, etc
to fall or droop or allow to fall or droop
to hang one's head in shame
(of cloth, clothing, etc) to drape, fall, or flow, esp in a specified manner
her skirt hangs well
(tr) to suspend (game such as pheasant) so that it becomes slightly decomposed and therefore more tender and tasty
(of a jury) to prevent or be prevented from reaching a verdict
slang, (past tense and past participle hanged) to damn or be damned: used in mild curses or interjections
I'll be hanged before I'll go out in that storm
(intr) to pass slowly (esp in the phrase time hangs heavily )
to be delayed
to procrastinate See also fire
See tough
noun
the way in which something hangs
slang, (usually used with a negative) a damn
I don't care a hang for what you say
informal
to understand the technique of doing something
to perceive the meaning or significance of
Usage
Other Word Forms
- hangable adjective
- hangability noun
- rehang verb (used with object)
- underhang verb
- unhanged adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of hang1
Word History and Origins
Origin of hang1
Idioms and Phrases
hang a left / right, to make a left (or right) turn, as while driving an automobile.
Hang a right at the next corner.
hang ten, to ride a surfboard with the weight of the body as far forward as possible and the toes of both feet curled over the front edge of the surfboard.
hang it up, to quit, resign, give up, etc..
The chief engineer is hanging it up after 40 years with the company.
hang one on,
to hit.
He hung one on the bully and knocked him down.
to become extremely drunk.
Every payday he hangs one on.
hang tight. hang tight.
let it all hang out,
to be completely candid in expressing one's feelings, opinions, etc..
She's never been one to let it all hang out.
to act or live without restraint or inhibitions.
hang in the balance, to be in a precarious state or condition.
The wounded man's life hung in the balance.
hang loose, to remain relaxed or calm.
Try to hang loose and don't let it bother you.
hang five, to ride a surfboard with the weight of the body forward and the toes of the forward foot curled over the front edge of the surfboard.
hang one's head. head.
hang together,
to be loyal to one another; remain united.
“We must indeed all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”
to cohere.
This pancake batter doesn't hang together.
to be logical or consistent.
His version of the story does not hang together.
hang tough, to remain unyielding, stubborn, or inflexible.
He's hanging tough and won't change his mind.
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
Cooper was on his way to hanging out with me at Dylan O’Brien’s Airbnb.
“The first time I walked into his personal recording studio, the first thing I noticed was a huge print of ‘Bride of Frankenstein,’ our 1935 classic, hanging on the wall.
Seventh seed Djokovic hung over the net as he waited to congratulate Alcaraz, before waving to all corners of Arthur Ashe Stadium as he departed.
The question hanging over the party is - can they sustain this?
In one note, he envisaged the aftermath of a public hanging, with "surgeons fighting over corpses".
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Related Words
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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