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
Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025
To get to this week’s Altadena Cars & Coffee meetup, a Saturday hangout for car enthusiasts, attendees had to traverse some portion of Altadena, passing homes and businesses reduced to rubble by the Eaton fire.
—Marah Eakin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2025
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 30 Apr. 2025
On Sunday, April 27, the 59-year-old actress posted several photos on her Instagram account, showing the newly public couple enjoying some time together in Tennessee, hanging out on a ranch and driving around in an ATV.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hangout
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Noun
Since then, Drew and Goose have become inseparable friends, meeting weekly—often more—for hikes, dog park outings, and lazy hangouts at Drew's house.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025
To get to this week’s Altadena Cars & Coffee meetup, a Saturday hangout for car enthusiasts, attendees had to traverse some portion of Altadena, passing homes and businesses reduced to rubble by the Eaton fire.
—Marah Eakin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2025
Verb
This time, Saw is hanging out on D’Qar, which is where the Resistance will be headquartered in The Force Awakens.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 30 Apr. 2025
On Sunday, April 27, the 59-year-old actress posted several photos on her Instagram account, showing the newly public couple enjoying some time together in Tennessee, hanging out on a ranch and driving around in an ATV.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 28 Apr. 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 7 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hangout
noun
hang·out
ˈhaŋ-ˌau̇t
: a favorite place for spending time
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