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
David Calder2
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
Judy BlumeWhen 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
Sam MosesExamples of hang around in a Sentence
if you hang around until my husband gets home, you can meet him
Recent Examples on the Web
The palate leans on toffee, dark honey, orange peel, and a gentle rye spice that hangs around without dominating.
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The Memphis area is not expected to get above freezing temperatures for multiple days, so the snow on the ground and on roadways might hang around for a while.
—Brooke Muckerman, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 28 Jan. 2026
Holiday’s squad hung around during a rock-fight second quarter that featured 17 total fouls and 12 turnovers, but Boston reestablished control with a 14-4 run that stretched into the second half.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
For as lopsided as the final score looked, the Tigers did hang around for much of the first half.
—Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hang around
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Emily Price, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The Memphis area is not expected to get above freezing temperatures for multiple days, so the snow on the ground and on roadways might hang around for a while.
—Brooke Muckerman, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 28 Jan. 2026
Holiday’s squad hung around during a rock-fight second quarter that featured 17 total fouls and 12 turnovers, but Boston reestablished control with a 14-4 run that stretched into the second half.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
For as lopsided as the final score looked, the Tigers did hang around for much of the first half.
—Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hang around
Cite this Entry
“Hang around.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hang%20around. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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