hangout

1 of 2

noun

hang·​out ˈhaŋ-ˌau̇t How to pronounce hangout (audio)
: a favorite place for spending time
also : a place frequented for entertainment or for socializing

hang out

2 of 2

verb

hung out; hanging out; hangs out
1
intransitive : to protrude and droop
a dog with its tongue hanging out
2
intransitive informal : to spend time idly or in relaxing or socializing
just hanging out by the pool
My mother told me not to hang out in bars because the sort of people I would meet there were the sort of people who hang out in bars.Calvin Trillin
Traditionally, most owners [of sports teams] are rich egomaniacs eager to hang out with athletes and get their names in the paper.George Vecsey
3
transitive : to display (something) outside as an announcement to the public
hang out a sign/banner
used chiefly in the phrase hang out a/one's shingle in the figurative sense "to start a business, begin working professionally"
Publishing was not as complicated a business … when young Alfred Knopf hung out his shingle nearly 70 years ago.John F. Baker
Back then big L.A. law firms rarely hired Jews … . So Sterling hung out a shingle in Boyle Heights and became a tireless advocate for his old neighbors, handling everything from divorces to personal injury cases.Franz Lidz

Examples of hangout in a Sentence

Noun The park was their favorite hangout. a favorite hangout of senior citizens is the local community center
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Amazingly, this hangout spot (where some of the friends even spent several shivery nights), went undiscovered for four years. Brent Lang, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 The montage also included a shot of his hangout with Prince Harry at the Inter Miami CF and Los Angeles FC soccer game in L.A. in September. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024 The Vig: Upscale neighborhood hangout with four indoor and outdoor seating areas. The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2024 At the end of the tram tour, people walk a short distance back to see a gator hangout that King pointed out or walk along the Bobcat Boardwalk or a trail through a hammock near the Visitors Center. Miami Staff, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 In 2022, Reeves and Winter managed to have a fan-free hangout when they were photographed reuniting in Malibu. Brendan Le, Peoplemag, 17 Feb. 2024 Popular onboard hangout spots include the adults-only Solarium, the buzzy Rooftop Terrace, and, for suite guests, The Retreat. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2024 The setting changes from a garage hangout to a dive bar to a house party, all locations that typically stock Bud Light. 11d ago / 6:04 PM PST Jason Abbruzzese Both teams' elite tight ends are having quiet nights. Jason Abbruzzese, NBC News, 12 Feb. 2024 The preteen and his older brother went to a friend's house to get in some hangout time. Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Jan. 2024
Verb
You were recently spotted hanging out with Drake at one of his shows. Heran Mamo, Billboard, 8 Mar. 2024 Speaking of famous brunettes, Sharapova hung out in Paris with pop star turned designer Victoria Beckham, who was sporting crutches, thanks to a mishap at the gym. Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 Rather than linger, Sam books a flight home and starts hanging out with his college pal’s girlfriend Ayaka (Tokiko Kitagawa). Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, younger daughter Kodi Rose, 2, hung out sidestage. Sarah Michaud, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 Schoolchildren in uniforms hang out on street corners, chatting and laughing. Ayen Deng Bior, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Mar. 2024 Rather than hanging out mid-air between tree trunks or branches, tarantulas are burrowing species. Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024 He's seen more as a socialite tech guru who hangs out with people like New Age author Deepak Chopra, Bono and a Buddhist monk named Brother Spirit. Dara Kerr, NPR, 28 Feb. 2024 In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), Kelce hung out in the DJ booth at XS nightclub at the Wynn Las Vegas alongside EDM star Marshmello, who was playing at the nightclub. Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hangout.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1893, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hangout was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near hangout

Cite this Entry

“Hangout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hangout. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hangout

noun
hang·​out ˈhaŋ-ˌau̇t How to pronounce hangout (audio)
: a favorite place for spending time

More from Merriam-Webster on hangout

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