hangout

1 of 2

noun

hang·​out ˈhaŋ-ˌau̇t 

: a favorite place for spending time

also : a place frequented for entertainment or for socializing

hang out

2 of 2

verb

hung out; hanging out; hangs out

1

intransitive : to protrude and droop

a dog with its tongue hanging out

2

intransitive informal : to spend time idly or in relaxing or socializing

just hanging out by the pool

My mother told me not to hang out in bars because the sort of people I would meet there were the sort of people who hang out in bars.

—Calvin Trillin

Traditionally, most owners [of sports teams] are rich egomaniacs eager to hang out with athletes and get their names in the paper.

—George Vecsey

3

transitive : to display (something) outside as an announcement to the public

hang out a sign/banner

—used chiefly in the phrase hang out a/one's shingle in the figurative sense "to start a business, begin working professionally"

Publishing was not as complicated a business … when young Alfred Knopf hung out his shingle nearly 70 years ago.

—John F. Baker

Back then big L.A. law firms rarely hired Jews … . So Sterling hung out a shingle in Boyle Heights and became a tireless advocate for his old neighbors, handling everything from divorces to personal injury cases.

—Franz Lidz

Synonyms

Noun

• haunt

Examples of hangout in a Sentence

Noun

The park was their favorite hangout.

a favorite hangout of senior citizens is the local community center

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Marine Street Beach, which has low visibility from the street, often has been used as a hangout by local youths, with some of the gatherings involving alcohol or ending in fights. —Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2025

But because the parking structure’s panoramic top floor had long served as a public hangout, the new building maintains the tradition, offering even better 360 degree views over the skyline, as well as drinks, bites and music. —New York Times, 10 July 2025

Verb

Diamond Delk, a young woman and mother, was hanging out with her friends on the evening of July 5 when she was shot in her hip and leg, according to her attorney, Richard A. Ryles, who filed a notice of claim with the city on Thursday. —Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 11 July 2025

So there’s a bit of Michael Moore to Jerry’s missionary zeal, along with a bit of Ruby Ridge and Waco, as well as the hangover of the 2008 financial meltdown, when the banks were bailed out and the little people were hung out to dry. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1893, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hangout

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

hangout

noun

hang·​out ˈhaŋ-ˌau̇t 

: a favorite place for spending time