hang 1 of 2

verb

ˈhaŋ How to pronounce hang (audio)
Definition of hangnext
1
as in to swing
to place on an elevated point without support from below hang your coats on the coat rack in the hall

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to depend
to be determined by, based on, or subject (to) our plan to go to the amusement park has all been worked out; now it just hangs on the weather

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to droop
to be limp from lack of water or vigor as they neared the end of the long, hard march all but the most hardy were hanging, and some could barely put one foot in front of the other

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to hover
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air hanging just above the horizon was a little pink cloud

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to base
to find a basis that's very slim evidence upon which to hang a theory

Synonyms & Similar Words

hang

2 of 2

noun

1
as in dip
a downward slope proceeded carefully on snowshoes down the steep hang

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in slack
the extent to which something hangs or dips below a straight line there's too much hang in the bunting on the parade float—nothing should be touching the ground

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of hang
Verb
Instead, the threat of prosecution hangs over virtually any worker who processes ballots the Justice Department might seek to contest. — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2026 The truth, and its handling, hangs over the show, which must be annoying for those involved, and simultaneously is why many people bought tickets. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026
Noun
Visitors especially enjoy paragliding and hang-gliding in the area, as well as canoeing and hiking all around the Valley. — Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 28 July 2026 The spread is $36 and feeds up to five people, which is a legitimately good deal for a group hang. — Melissa Oyler, Charlotte Observer, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hang
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hang
  1. swing
  2. depend
  3. droop
  4. hover
  5. base
  6. dip
  7. slack
  8. dangle
Verb
  • The pendulum has swung so far now that SpaceX seems increasingly disinterested in the US government for most contracts outside of data services, such as Starshield for military communications and observations.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Amelie’s swung open the doors on its original NoDa location in 2008.
    — Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of swing
Verb
  • Different rules apply depending on the location and how the remains will be handled.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Farmers face an even bigger threat at the start of the winter growing season because irrigation depends on electricity and there is no diesel in the area to run pumps.
    — Hamza Fahmy, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of depend
Verb
  • Zoom out to take it as part of the whole, though, and things start to soften and droop.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
  • With drooping eyebrows, Hollywell bids farewell and invites me to hang out again tomorrow.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of droop
Verb
  • With a police helicopter hovering overhead, police started using tear gas and a water cannon in an effort to move the protesters back.
    — Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Daytime temperatures hovered in the upper 40s to low 50s this week in Halifax, with overnight lows in the 30s, according to weather reports.
    — Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of hover
Verb
  • One of the helicopters was operated by Jerry Trimble Helicopters, a flight training and helicopter rental company based at McMinnville Municipal Airport.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Her body has never been recovered, preventing investigators from closing the case based solely on his confession.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of base
Noun
  • Every day starts with a morning dip or at least a walk along the black-and-white promenade.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026
  • His dip in the polling this month seems less attributable to any new policy position or statements than to just a general gloom among California residents about the state’s direction, Baldassare said.
    — Andrew Graham October 27, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of dip
Noun
  • The mental load of harder cases As AI takes on routine tasks, human agents may be left dealing with a greater share of complicated cases — and be required to pick up the slack when the technology fails.
    — Lindsay Dodgson, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The Orange defense held Isaac Brown in check but others picked up the slack, and the Cardinals have scored at least 28 points in all its games.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of slack
Verb
  • Two days later, my husband found the frame of my wheelchair dropped off on our doorstep, scratches across the front, two parts dangling.
    — Rebekah Taussig, Time, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Rebels’ playoff hopes dangling and RB Kewan Lacy (shoulder) is out.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of dangle

Phrases Containing hang

Browse Nearby Words

handyperson
hang
hang about
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hang.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hang. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of candidate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All