Definition of hang
hung
play \ˈhəŋ\ alsohanged
play \ˈhaŋd\;hanging
play \ˈhaŋ-iŋ\transitive verb
1a : to fasten to some elevated point without support from below : suspend hang a picture on the wallb : to suspend by the neck until dead —often hanged in the past —often used as a mild oath I'll be hangedc : to fasten so as to allow free motion within given limits upon a point of suspension hang a doord : 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
intransitive verb
hang fire
hang it up
hang loose
hang one on
hang out to dry
hang one's hat
hang ten
hang tough
People Are Reading
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
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Hanging with the college crowd isn't a surprise for him.
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More than 40 years later, a detective from Illinois arrived at the family’s home to tell Haakenson’s relatives that at some point after hanging up the phone, the teenager crossed paths with serial killer John Wayne Gacy.
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Sumner followed him inside and hung an orange sticker in the front window: This property has been seized by the Maricopa County Constable’s Office.
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The show’s biggest scene-stealer, though, is Dominique Scott’s Jerry Lee Lewis, a flailing dervish with a mad gleam in his eye, baggy maroon trousers and a washrag of blond hair hanging in his face.
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The hanging fruits had been emblazoned with the letters of the Black sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc.
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Everyone was eager to belt out their favorite pop songs and Broadway classics below the disco balls hanging over Mary’s stage.
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Lily and her mother also drove nails to hang shutters on the front windows as volunteers cheered them on.
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There are 18 hotel rooms on the top three floors, which has walls hung with works by a team of aboriginal artists.
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
hang
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
orcare a hang
: to be the least bit concerned or worried She doesn't give a hang whether she wins or not.
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
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Still hasn’t quite got the hang of getting its missiles UP into the air.
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A luminous suite of small monoprints hangs, salon-style, in a corner painted pink for the occasion.
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
see 1hang
HANG Defined for English Language Learners
hang
playDefinition of hang for English Language Learners
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: to attach or place something so that it is held up without support from below
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: to decorate (a surface) by hanging something (such as a picture) on it
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: to put (wallpaper) on a wall
hang
Definition of hang for English Language Learners
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: the way in which something hangs
HANG Defined for Kids
Definition of hang for Students
hung
\ˈhəŋ\ alsohanged
;hanging
1 : to fasten or be fastened to something without support from below I helped Mom hang curtains.
2 : to kill or be killed by suspending (as from a gallows) by a rope tied around the neck
3 : to cause to droop The dog hung her head.
hang around
1 : to be or stay (somewhere) without doing much They like to hang around the mall.
2 : to pass time without doing much We hung around until dark.
hang on
1 : to hold or grip something tightly
2 : to wait or stop briefly I'm busy. Can you hang on a minute?
3 : to be determined or decided by The decision hangs on one vote.
hang out
hang up
Definition of hang for Students
1 : the way in which a thing hangs The skirt has a graceful hang.
2 : skill to do something I got the hang of skating.
Law Dictionary
hang
Legal Definition of hang
hung
alsohanged
hanging
transitive verb
: to suspend by the neck until dead especially as a form of execution —often hanged in the past tense
intransitive verb
1 : to die by hanging —often hanged in the past tense he hanged for his crimes
2 : to be unable to reach a decision or verdict the jury hung on 19 counts against [him] — Randall Samborn
Learn More about hang
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See words that rhyme with hang Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hang Spanish Central: Translation of hang Nglish: Translation of hang for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of hang for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
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