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

2

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

When 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

Synonyms of hang around

• remain
• stay
• wait
• stick around

Examples of hang around in a Sentence

if you hang around until my husband gets home, you can meet him

Recent Examples on the Web

South Florida is shooting a putrid 1-of-17 from 3-point range as a team, but is hanging around mostly by playing defense. —Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026

But after one more Post basket, the Knicks – led by Brunson and OG were able to hang around and then turn the tide. —Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026

Boston’s perimeter shooting took longer to develop, which helped the underdog Wizards hang around through the opening quarter. —Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026

Florida’s 18 turnovers and three 3-pointers — on 20 attempts — against Kentucky allowed the Wildcats to hang around during the Gators’ 71-63 win Friday in the tournament quarterfinals. —Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for hang around

• aboveground
• battleground
• belowground
• paperbound
• turnaround
• ultrasound
• underground
• wraparound
• abound
• aground
• astound
• background

Kids Definition

hang around

verb

informal

: to pass time or stay idly in or at

hung around the house all day