hang·out
ˈhaŋ-ˌau̇t 
: a favorite place for spending time
also
: a place frequented for entertainment or for socializing
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
Calvin TrillinTraditionally, most owners [of sports teams] are rich egomaniacs eager to hang out with athletes and get their names in the paper.—George Vecsey
George Vecsey3
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
John F. BakerBack 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
Franz LidzExamples 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
Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 16 Dec. 2025
Dark, rich woods can set the tone of a cabin retreat or a basement hangout, a centuries-old library or a McMansion Tuscan kitchen, depending on how they’re used.
—Rachel Davies, Architectural Digest, 15 Dec. 2025
Kansas City Star, 16 Dec. 2025
The couple decided to step away briefly, heading to Ben Buckler’s Point, a short walk north of the event, to hang out before returning to the celebration.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hangout
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Noun
Ellison described the 2,500-square-foot space as a casual hangout to meet up and unwind with friends, Business Debut reported.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 16 Dec. 2025
Dark, rich woods can set the tone of a cabin retreat or a basement hangout, a centuries-old library or a McMansion Tuscan kitchen, depending on how they’re used.
—Rachel Davies, Architectural Digest, 15 Dec. 2025
Verb
When Clifton and co-owner Alex Quinn started Gnarly Hussle during the height of the pandemic, their goal was to get people back to hanging out.
—Kansas City Star, 16 Dec. 2025
The couple decided to step away briefly, heading to Ben Buckler’s Point, a short walk north of the event, to hang out before returning to the celebration.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hangout
Cite this Entry
“Hangout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hangout. Accessed 18 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hangout
noun
hang·out
ˈhaŋ-ˌau̇t
: a favorite place for spending time
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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