hang around

verb

hung around; hanging around; hangs around

1

intransitive, informal

a

: to pass time idly or in relaxing or socializing

spent the day just hanging around with her friends

b

: to stay in or at a place for a period of time

had to hang around for over an hour, waiting for the bus

She didn't feel like hanging around at the club afterward …

—David Calder

2

transitive informal : to pass time or stay in or at (a place) or in the company of (someone)

hung around the house all day

My mother doesn't want me hanging around the park alone.

—Judy Blume

When he was 10 years old, Lester taught him-self to windsurf by hanging around the Europeans and Canadian tourists who rented boards on the beach at Varadero.

—Sam Moses

Synonyms

• abide
• dwell
• remain
• stay
• stick around
• tarry

Examples of hang around in a Sentence

if you hang around until my husband gets home, you can meet him

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s some connective tissue between both films, but viewers shouldn’t expect to see any legacy characters hanging around. —Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 July 2024

The gold medal that would hang around his neck cemented him in history. —Zoe Grossman, USA TODAY, 18 July 2024

The victim was hanging around outside when accused gunman Usamah Sidberry began barbecuing after midnight, Kenny said. —Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 18 July 2024

In memory, the layered intrigues will keep hanging around. —Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

hang around

verb

informal

: to pass time or stay idly in or at

hung around the house all day