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
Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 13 Aug. 2025
Mice: Dry straw, wood chips, and leaves can offer mice protection and a place to build nests.
Snakes: While not their ideal hangout, mulch can harbor the insects and rodents snakes love to eat.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 13 Aug. 2025
Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2025
Two or three planets are also commonly hanging out in the night sky, according to NASA.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hangout
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Noun
The new Eagle hangout is just the latest in what has been a run of coffee-shop news in recent days.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 13 Aug. 2025
Mice: Dry straw, wood chips, and leaves can offer mice protection and a place to build nests.
Snakes: While not their ideal hangout, mulch can harbor the insects and rodents snakes love to eat.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
Your old friends are ready to drop everything to hang out.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2025
Two or three planets are also commonly hanging out in the night sky, according to NASA.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 15 Aug. 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 19 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hangout
noun
hang·out
ˈhaŋ-ˌau̇t
: a favorite place for spending time
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