hang around
verb
hung around; hanging around; hangs around
1
intransitive,
informal
a
: to pass time idly or in relaxing or socializing
spent the day just hanging around with her friends
b
: to stay in or at a place for a period of time
had to hang around for over an hour, waiting for the bus
She didn't feel like hanging around at the club afterward …—
David Calder
David Calder2
transitive
informal
: to pass time or stay in or at (a place) or in the company of (someone)
hung around the house all day
My mother doesn't want me hanging around the park alone.—Judy Blume
Judy BlumeWhen he was 10 years old, Lester taught him-self to windsurf by hanging around the Europeans and Canadian tourists who rented boards on the beach at Varadero.—Sam Moses
Sam MosesExamples of hang around in a Sentence
if you hang around until my husband gets home, you can meet him
Recent Examples on the Web
After one difficult game at the plate this spring, Freeland hung around Betts’ locker for at least 15 minutes, going through his swing and his thoughts at the plate while Betts watched and listened.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
To make sure the recipes and processes are carefully repeated, Wright and Quick will be hanging around Big Q for a few weeks, helping Tolle.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2026
Nashville Predators Nashville traded away four players at the deadline, including Nick Blankenburg to Colorado, and yet is still hanging around in the wild-card race.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
Police said the man sometimes hangs around the Music Building and pretends to be a student.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hang around
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
To make sure the recipes and processes are carefully repeated, Wright and Quick will be hanging around Big Q for a few weeks, helping Tolle.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2026
Nashville Predators Nashville traded away four players at the deadline, including Nick Blankenburg to Colorado, and yet is still hanging around in the wild-card race.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
Police said the man sometimes hangs around the Music Building and pretends to be a student.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hang around
Cite this Entry
“Hang around.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hang%20around. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
