hang

verb \ ˈhaŋ \

Updated on: 21 Apr 2018

Definition of hang

hung play \ˈhəŋ\ also hanged play \ˈhaŋd\; hanging play \ˈhaŋ-iŋ\

transitive verb

1 a : to fasten to some elevated point without support from below : suspend

hang a picture on the wall

b : to suspend by the neck until dead —often hanged in the past —often used as a mild oath

I'll be hanged

c : to fasten so as to allow free motion within given limits upon a point of suspension

hang a door

d : to adjust the hem of (a skirt) so as to hang evenly and at a proper height

2 : to furnish with hanging decorations (such as flags or bunting)

Hang the windows with velvet curtains.

a room hung with streamers

3 : to hold or bear in a suspended or inclined manner

hung his head in shame

4 : to apply to a wall

hang wallpaper

5 : to display (pictures) in a gallery

6 baseball : to throw (a pitch, such as a curveball) so that it fails to break properly

7 : to make (a turn) especially while driving

hang a right

hung a quick U-turn
—Tom Clancy

8 : base, found

something to hang our hopes on

intransitive verb

1 a : to remain suspended or fastened to some point above without support from below : dangle

b : to die by being suspended by the neck —often hanged in the past

He hanged for his crimes.

c : to be connected as something relevant or related

thereby hangs a tale
—William Shakespeare

2 : to hover or remain stationary in the air

clouds hanging low overhead

3 : linger, persist

The thought hung in her mind for days.

4 : to be imminent : impend

doom hung over the nation

5 : to fall or droop from a usually tense or taut position

let the reins hang loose on the horse's back

Their mouths hung open in disbelief.

6 : depend

election hangs on one vote

7 a (1) : to take hold for support : cling

she hung on his arm

(2) : to keep persistent contact

dogs hung to the trail

(3) : to maintain or continue holding a position

hang behind

(4) : to stay even : keep up —usually used with with

trying to hang with the leader

b : to be burdensome or oppressive

time hangs on his hands

8 : to be uncertain or in suspense

the decision is still hanging

9 : to lean, incline, or jut over or downward

a rocky cliff that hangs overhead

10 : to be in a state of rapt attention

hung on her every word

11 : to fit or fall from the figure in easy lines

the coat hangs loosely

12 : to pass time idly or in relaxing or socializing

hanging at the beach

—often used with around or out

hung out with friends

13 of a thrown ball : to fail to break or drop as intended

—

hangable

play \ˈhaŋ-ə-bəl\ adjective

— hang fire

1 : to be slow in the explosion of a charge after its primer has been discharged

2 : delay, hesitate

3 : to remain unsettled or unresolved

The plans had to hang fire until the city council approved them.

— hang it up

: to cease an activity or effort

We all agreed it was time to hang it up.

— hang loose

: to remain calm or relaxed

— hang one on

1 : to inflict a blow on

wanted to hang one on him

2 slang : to get very drunk

— hang out to dry

: to leave stranded in a hopeless or dangerous situation

The company hung us out to dry.

— hang one's hat

1 : to situate oneself in a place (such as a residence or place of employment)

looking for a new place to hang my hat

2 hang one's hat on : to have or use (something) as a source of support

need a career to hang my hat on

— hang ten

: to ride a surfboard with the toes of both feet turned over the front edge

— hang tough

: to remain resolute in the face of adversity : hang in

See hang defined for English-language learners

See hang defined for kids

hanged vs. hung

For both transitive and intransitive senses 1b the past and past participle hung, as well as hanged, is standard. Hanged is most appropriate for official executions

- he was to be hanged, cut down whilst still alive … and his bowels torn out
- —Louis Allen

but hung is also used.

- gave orders that she should be hung
- —Peter Quennell

Hung is more appropriate for less formal hangings.

- by morning I'll be hung in effigy
- —Ronald Reagan

Examples of hang in a Sentence

He hung the painting on the wall.
We hung paper lanterns from the trees.
My grandmother used to hang the wash on a clothesline.
A photograph of her family hangs on the wall.
Several of her paintings are hanging in the Museum of Modern Art.
Your coat is hanging in the closet.
They plan to hang wallpaper in the hallway.
He let his arm hang down into the water.
They will hang him in the county jailhouse.
He was hanged for his crimes.

Recent Examples of hang from the Web

Autograph-seekers, many wearing Louisville Cardinals red, hung closer, treated to eight minutes of this before the left-hander, now loosened up, walked to the mound and aimed it at opposing Single-A batters.

— gentry estes, The Courier-Journal, "He's a 'rare talent.' Former U of L star Brendan McKay could be MLB's next Shohei Ohtani," 17 Apr. 2018
After she was done hanging signs, Ack and her friends disappeared back on to campus, staying dry at least until the runners started passing.

— dugan arnett, jerome campbell, eric moskowitz, BostonGlobe.com, "Runners, spectators brave bone-chilling weather," 16 Apr. 2018
Peterson, once a reluctant gardener, kept planting — tomatoes in milk-crate planters and flowers in hanging pots made from tires split into half moons.

— samantha melamed, Philly.com, "Philly's urban gardeners are under siege from gentrification. Here's what they're doing about it," 16 Apr. 2018
And there's clearly a cool artistic vibe, with glass art all around, from hanging bottles to stained works and more.

— marc bona, cleveland.com, "35 Brix: Northeast Ohio's best weekend brunches, breakfasts," 14 Apr. 2018
Above them hang artifacts from home: lamps, a table, and an old-fashioned cathode ray tube television.

— lauren warnecke, chicagotribune.com, "'Poor People’s TV Room' mixes Boko Haram history with Oprah — and is a tough, tough piece to unpack," 13 Apr. 2018
There's the 10-foot wide centerpiece chandelier, with more than 100 hanging pendants.

— william thornton, AL.com, "Westin Huntsville completes $7 million renovation," 12 Apr. 2018
Demands were dropped for contractor approval, portrait hanging and regular reports on computer literacy.

— valerie strauss, Washington Post, "Billionaire offered $25 million to high school alma mater. What he wanted in return was too much for the district.," 12 Apr. 2018
And for the first time, there'll be a lobby with hanging artwork and a security guard desk.

— Sun-Sentinel.com, "CRIME," 12 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hang.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of hang

partly from Middle English hon, from Old English hōn, transitive verb; partly from Middle English hangen, from Old English hangian, intransitive verb & transitive verb; both akin to Old High German hāhan, transitive verb, to hang, hangēn, intransitive verb — more at cunctation

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

hang Synonyms

hang

noun

Definition of hang

1 : the manner in which a thing is poised when suspended from above without support from below : the way in which a thing hangs (see ¹hang)

the hang of a skirt

2 : declivity, slope; also : droop

the hang of his lower lip

3 : facility with or an understanding of something

can't get the hang of this

4 : a hesitation or slackening in motion or in a course

a marked hang of the oar in the air before it dipped

— give a hang or care a hang

: to be the least bit concerned or worried

She doesn't give a hang whether she wins or not.

See hang defined for English-language learners

Examples of hang in a Sentence

the hang of a skirt
anyone foolish enough to ski that hang would end up with a broken neck

Recent Examples of hang from the Web

But the hang-up in our state and in the city of Portland has always been the notion of using public dollars to fund a stadium.

— jd humburg, OregonLive.com, "Oregon high school baseball, softball: Breaking down every 6A team," 16 Apr. 2018
Orlando got a big boost from a controversial penalty kick call against Portland, but now has won two in a row and may be getting the hang of things with newcomers Sacha Kljestan and Justin Meram.

— brian straus, SI.com, "MLS Tiers, Week 6: Imbalanced Schedule, CCL Commitments Cloud League Hierarchy," 10 Apr. 2018
Soon enough Langlands has got the hang of it, slicing with skill while listening to the birds that the strimmer’s racket had drowned out.

— josephine livingstone, The New Republic, "Does Crafting Make People Happier?," 9 Apr. 2018
Leal passed away after being pepper-sprayed by a deputy responding to several 911 hang-ups from a home in Vista.

— jeff mcdonald, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Sheriff's policy seems to call for announcing jail deaths, but department says that's not so," 8 Apr. 2018
The adults each have to overcome their own hang-ups to become the sort of parent their daughter needs, whether that means being less overbearing, more involved, or the right kind of supportive.

— alissa wilkinson, Vox, "Blockers is a solid raunch comedy that dares to let its teen girl characters be great," 5 Apr. 2018
His college jersey hangs, framed and under glass, in Les Hunter’s rec room, a nod to Loyola Chicago’s national basketball championship 55 years ago.

— mike klingaman, baltimoresun.com, "Catching up with ... former Loyola Chicago and Bullets player Les Hunter," 30 Mar. 2018
The big hang-up is about the Cadillac tax passed by the Senate, which would pay for the full reform package by...

— Newsweek, "Analysis," 14 Mar. 2018
Westerville officers Eric Joering, 39, and Anthony Morelli, 54, were shot and killed after responding to a 911 hang-up call on Feb. 10 at the home of the suspect.

— cliff pinckard, cleveland.com, "Donations for fallen Ohio police officers stolen," 11 Mar. 2018