hang

1 of 2

verb

ˈhaŋ

hung ˈhəŋ

also hanged ˈhaŋd

; hanging ˈhaŋ-iŋ

transitive verb

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

hang a picture on the wall

: to suspend by the neck until dead

—often hanged in the past

—often used as a mild oath

I'll be hanged

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

hang a door

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

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

Hang the windows with velvet curtains.

a room hung with streamers

: to hold or bear in a suspended or inclined manner

hung his head in shame

: to apply to a wall

hang wallpaper

: to display (pictures) in a gallery

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

: to make (a turn) especially while driving

hang a right

hung a quick U-turn

Tom Clancy

: base, found

something to hang our hopes on

intransitive verb

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

: to die by being suspended by the neck

—often hanged in the past

He hanged for his crimes.

: to be connected as something relevant or related

thereby hangs a tale

William Shakespeare

: to hover or remain stationary in the air

clouds hanging low overhead

: linger, persist

The thought hung in her mind for days.

: to be imminent : impend

doom hung over the nation

: 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.

: depend

election hangs on one vote

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

: to be burdensome or oppressive

time hangs on his hands

: to be uncertain or in suspense

the decision is still hanging

: to lean, incline, or jut over or downward

a rocky cliff that hangs overhead

: to be in a state of rapt attention

hung on her every word

: to fit or fall from the figure in easy lines

the coat hangs loosely

informal : to pass time idly or in relaxing or socializing : hang around, hang out

hanging with friends

hanging at the beach

Off the track, Jones was all but invisible in Sydney. She prefers hanging with her husband … and a small inner circle of friends.

Mark Starr

I had the chance to hang with Taibbi recently after he spoke to a Denver audience about his new book …

David Sirota

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

hangable

ˈhaŋ-ə-bəl

adjective

Hanged vs. Hung: Usage Guide

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

hang

2 of 2

noun

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

the hang of a skirt

: declivity, slope

also : droop

the hang of his lower lip

: facility with or an understanding of something

can't get the hang of this

: a hesitation or slackening in motion or in a course

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

Phrases

hang fire

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

: delay, hesitate

: 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

: to inflict a blow on

wanted to hang one on him

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

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

looking for a new place to hang my hat

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

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.

Example Sentences

Verb 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. Noun the hang of a skirt proceeded carefully on snowshoes down the steep hang See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Drape them down the side of your house or hang them from a tree to design a large Christmas tree image.

Emily Rochotte, Good Housekeeping, 22 Nov. 2022 Place it in a frame and hang it up on your wall to add an instant dose of magic to any room.

Leah Campano, Seventeen, 9 Nov. 2022 If your patio or deck is uncovered, shop for a garden mirror made with materials that can withstand the elements, but don't hang it in direct sunlight.

Heather Luckhurst, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Nov. 2022 The gift receiver can even glue it together when they're done and hang it up as art.

Jamie Ballard, Woman's Day, 3 Nov. 2022 There is a scary electrical charge of intolerance in the air, and a cultural icon has decided not only to touch the live wire, but to hang it around his neck, wave it around, and run it up the flagpole of his fame.

Bill Carter, CNN, 2 Nov. 2022 Protesters who breeched the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 singled out Pelosi among their targets, some of them entering her office, others threatening to shoot or hang her.

Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2022 Time will tell if the Bruins will have capable top-six centers ready when Bergeron and Krejci finally hang ‘em up.

Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Oct. 2022 Play on the floor or hang it up on your wall as your little ones learn about different countries and continents, and some of the things that can be found in each.

Lauren Gray, Popular Mechanics, 27 Oct. 2022

Noun

Her supporters are pitching her as a unity candidate: someone who can steady the ship without infighting or ideological hang-ups.

Patrick Smith, NBC News, 21 Oct. 2022 Leave Bro to work though his own hang-ups without you.

Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 15 Oct. 2022 Kids and adult newbies to the hoverboard world will appreciate the Razor Hovertrax Prizma’s training setting, allowing riders to get the hang of the device before allowing more advanced stops and turns.

Popular Mechanics, 15 Nov. 2022 Luckily, skin cycling is a pretty easy process to get the hang of.

Maggie O'neill, SELF, 17 Sep. 2022 Since then, Lee and Youcef have been getting the hang of being a couple in the public eye.

Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE.com, 4 July 2022 That may sound like a long sit for first-timers still getting the hang of Sondheim.

San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2022 The guys of Modern English hang with Debbie Gibson backstage at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in N.Y.C. on Oct. 4. Olivia Colman films Wicked Little Letters in Littlehampton, England, on Oct. 4.

People Staff, Peoplemag, 11 Oct. 2022 An armchair balances on the dining table, a television set sits on its side against the living room wall, portraits of the sea hang crooked.

Erica Lee, CNN, 8 Oct. 2022 See More

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.

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

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

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

circa 1797, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of hang was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century