hang

verb \ ˈhaŋ \

|Updated on: 21 Aug 2018

Usage guide: hanged vs. hung

Examples: hang in a Sentence

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 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

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

Brad Hand threw a slider low and away but just hung enough that Anthony Rizzo could drive it the other way into the gap in right-center field.

— kevin acee, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Padres notes: Hand's struggles; Richard's survival," 14 July 2018
Does Theresa May hang onto her job or does Boris Johnson become the next prime minister?

— Fox News, "UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt on NATO, Russia and Brexit," 13 July 2018
And then the other one is for everything that’s hanging.

— refinery29.com, "Linda Rodin’s Rise To Accidental Style Icon," 12 July 2018
North Texas coach Seth Littrell is doing remarkable work in Denton and the Mean Green's biggest battle in the future may be hanging onto him.

— iliana limón romero, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Talented North Texas is No. 46 in 2018 preseason college football rankings," 12 July 2018
His predecessor, former President Barack Obama, lost more than 2 million, but hung onto more than 101 million.

— ronald j. hansen, azcentral, "Twitter purge hits John McCain, Ruben Gallego most among Arizona politicos," 12 July 2018
Rondon flipped a first-pitch slider that hung far too long in the air.

— chandler rome, Houston Chronicle, "Bizarre ending secures Astros' extra-innings victory over A's," 11 July 2018
And apply a similar high-N, water-soluble plant food to your patio pots and hanging baskets once or twice a week.

— neil sperry, star-telegram, "Here’s your gardening to-do list for the second part of the summer," 11 July 2018
Restaurant Review: Spanish flavors are bold (but imperfect) at this Louisville restaurant A handful of black tables and chairs are set in the back half of the space, unframed scenes from Vietnam hanging along the wall.

— lindsey mcclave, The Courier-Journal, "Ngon Appetit keeps it simple with 3 items — soup, sandwiches, crepes," 11 July 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