hang
verb (used with object), hung or especially for 4, 5, 20, hanged; hang·ing.
- 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.
verb (used without object), hung or especially for 24, hanged; hang·ing.
- 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.
noun
- loss of way due to adverse wind or current.
- a rake, as of a mast.
Verb Phrases
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- to lean or be suspended through an opening.
- Informal. to frequent a particular place, especially in idling away one's free time: to hang out in a bar.
- Informal. to loiter in public places: nothing to do on Saturday night but hang out.
- Informal. to consort or appear in public with: Who's she been hanging out with?
- Slang. to calm down: Hang out, Mom, I'm OK.
- to wait, especially briefly: Hang out a minute while I get my backpack.
- to suspend in open view; display: to hang out the flag.
- 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.
- 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 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.
Idioms for hang
- to hit: He hung one on the bully and knocked him down.
- to become extremely drunk: Every payday he hangs one on.
- 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.
- 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.
Origin of hang
synonym study for hang
usage note for hang
OTHER WORDS FROM hang
Words nearby hang
Example sentences from the Web for hang
You just travel light with carry-on luggage, go to cities that you love, and get to hang out with all your friends.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness |Marlow Stern |January 7, 2015 |DAILY BEASTIt was getting to create jokes at the source, and to get to hang out with comedians.
I think 2014 was my big rock and roll year, and 2015 is gonna be a really good year to hang around the house.
She was gonna be in New York and wanted to hang around for New Years and hopefully be able to stay long enough to meet our baby.
Occasionally Hitchcock would have ideas for films, or chunks of films, but no real story to hang them on.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days |David Freeman |December 13, 2014 |DAILY BEASTOnly Messrs. Seward and Bates hang timidly behind, waiting for stronger manifestations, ere they hang out their flags.
We won't wait for no law; if we only ketch him we will hang him up so high that the buzzards can't git him.
Samantha at the World's Fair |Marietta Holley"Hang it all, there's a blowout," growled Reed, bringing the car to a stop.
The Golden Boys and Their New Electric Cell |L. P. WymanI supposed I should hang my life on to that once, and was driven up and down and about as if something was worrying through me.
Howards End |E. M. ForsterBeing a notorious crazy man, and very savagely mauled, they did not hang him.
Calavar |Robert Montgomery Bird
British Dictionary definitions for hang
verb hangs, hanging or hung (hʌŋ)
- to be delayed
- to procrastinateSee also fire (def. 16)
noun
- to understand the technique of doing something
- to perceive the meaning or significance of