1
a
: 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
Tom Clancy1
a
: 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
William Shakespeare2
: to hover or remain stationary in the air
clouds hanging low overhead
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
7
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
Mark StarrI had the chance to hang with Taibbi recently after he spoke to a Denver audience about his new book …—David Sirota
David Sirota13
of a thrown ball
: to fail to break or drop as intended
Hanged vs. Hung: Usage Guide
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
Louis Allen
but hung is also used.
gave orders that she should be hung
—Peter Quennell
Peter Quennell
Hung is more appropriate for less formal hangings.
by morning I'll be hung in effigy
—Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
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
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
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
proceeded carefully on snowshoes down the steep hang
Recent Examples on the Web
Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
On the chain around Hedda Gabler’s neck hangs a key to her father’s gun case.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Deliver is, at its core, a tribute to the bond between Springsteen and Jon Landau, played here by Jeremy Strong with big hang-dog energy.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hang
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
For care, the brand recommends a gentle machine cycle or hand-washing the dress to clean it, then hanging it to air-dry.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
On the chain around Hedda Gabler’s neck hangs a key to her father’s gun case.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
It's also been used as a post-game hang for the likes of Mahomes, Kelce and his fiancée Taylor Swift.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Deliver is, at its core, a tribute to the bond between Springsteen and Jon Landau, played here by Jeremy Strong with big hang-dog energy.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hang
Cite this Entry
“Hang.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hang. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hang
1 of 2 verb1
2
: to furnish with hanging decorations (as pictures or curtains)
3
: droop entry 1 sense 1
hung my head in shame
4
: to fasten to a wall
hang wallpaper
5
: to display pictures in a gallery
6
: hover sense 1b
clouds hanging low overhead
7
: to stay steadily
8
: depend sense 1
election hangs on one vote
9
a
: to take hold for support : cling
the children hung on his arm
b
: to be hard to bear
worry hung on his mind
10
: to be uncertain
the decision is still hanging
11
: to be in a state of close attention
hung on my every word
12
informal
: to pass time idly especially by relaxing or socializing
—often used with around or out
hung out with friends
hang
2 of 2 noun1
: the manner in which a thing hangs
the hang of a skirt
2
a
: meaning entry 1 sense 1b
the hang of an argument
b
: a special method : knack
get the hang of driving
Legal Definition
hang
verb
hung also hanged; hanging
: to suspend by the neck until dead especially as a form of execution
—often hanged in the past tense
1
: to die by hanging
—often hanged in the past tense
he hanged for his crimes
2
: to be unable to reach a decision or verdict
the jury hung on 19 counts against [him]—Randall Samborn
Randall SambornLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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