hang

verb

\ˈhaŋ

hung\ ˈhəŋ

\ also hanged\ ˈhaŋd

\; hanging\ ˈhaŋ-iŋ

Definition of hang

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : 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

1a : 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

7a(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

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

hang

noun

Definition of hang (Entry 2 of 2)

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 hang entry 1) 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.

Other Words from hang Synonyms & Antonyms Hanged vs. Hung: Usage Guide More Example Sentences Learn More about hang

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Hanged vs. Hung: Usage Guide

Verb

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

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The problem, of course, is that there isn’t much in the way of data to hang these models on. — Chris Lee, Ars Technica, "Physicists report electron is round—what does that mean?," 7 Nov. 2018 Gently wrap dough around rolling pin and transfer to half of 15½ x 10½-inch rimmed baking sheet, placing 10-inch side of dough along longest side of pan and allowing dough to hang over 3 sides. — Heather Finn, Good Housekeeping, "How to Make a Crowd-Pleasing Pumpkin Slab Pie," 19 Oct. 2018 University President Tony Waldrop said in a Wednesday night statement that the student was suspended after admitting to hanging two nooses and a bicycle in a tree on campus. — Fox News, "Student suspended after nooses found on Alabama campus," 28 Sep. 2018 The first order of business was to hang a swing, made by a woodworker in Alabama. — Anne Roderique-jones, Town & Country, "Porching Isn't Just a Southern Tradition—It's a Way of Life," 15 Aug. 2018 Knot ends of monofilament together; use loop to hang. — Woman's Day Staff, Woman's Day, "50+ Creative Pumpkin Carving Ideas for Halloween," 25 July 2018 Acting on behalf of her father King George VI, who was gravely ill at the time, Elizabeth gave Truman an ornate 18th-century ‘over mantle’ to hang above a fireplace in the White House, as Pathé newsreel from the time shows. — Ciara Nugent, Time, "Here's How Every Meeting Between the Queen and a U.S. President Went," 12 July 2018 McCullers did race ahead of Chad Pinder 0-2, only to hang another curveball which the A's left fielder deposited into the Crawford Boxes. — Chandler Rome, Houston Chronicle, "Athletics hammer Lance McCullers in Astros' loss," 12 July 2018 One way or another, McQuarrie spins just enough of a narrative line on which to hang the big set pieces. — Todd Mccarthy, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Mission: Impossible — Fallout': Film Review," 12 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

And getting the hang of my officer duties in general was quite a task. — Vogue, "Inside Frieze London With Elisabeth von Thurn und Taxis," 9 Oct. 2018 Inside, the skeleton of a great winged pteranodon hangs suspended from the ceiling. — Eric Adler And Steve Vockrodt, kansascity, "After losing millions, can Prairiefire dinosaur museum in Johnson County evolve? | The Kansas City Star," 18 May 2018 And David Zwirner continues its 25th-anniversary celebration with a floor-to-ceiling, something-for-everyone hang of works by 50 artists. — Roberta Smith, New York Times, "ADAA: A Fair to Remember Starts a Month of Art Show Madness," 1 Mar. 2018 But members of Congress didn’t really get the hang of using it until after rules for discharge petitions were revised in 1931 and 1935. — Olivia B. Waxman, Time, "The Old-School Trick That Finally Pushed the House to Move on Immigration," 13 June 2018 Maybe host a low-key summer hang with your friends. — The Editors Of Gq, GQ, "Amazon Prime Day 2018: Everything You Need to Know," 3 July 2018 But her preternatural intelligence and subtlety as an actress are wasted on a character who never stops shouting her hang-ups from the rooftops. — Justin Chang, latimes.com, "'Boundaries' takes the road all too quirkily traveled," 21 June 2018 Mesa police responded to a 911 hang-up call from a residential area near McKellips and Lindsay roads at about 5 p.m. Saturday, according to Mesa police spokesman Nikolas Rasheta. — Bree Burkitt, azcentral, "Man found dead in house after police shooting in Mesa," 17 June 2018 The only potential hang-up: attendance issues become a long-term problem rather than a short-term one. — Will Leitch, Daily Intelligencer, "Nobody’s Going to Sports in Person Anymore. And No One Seems to Care.," 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.

History and Etymology for hang

Verb

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

Noun

see hang entry 1

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