hung up

adjective

1

: delayed or detained for a time

2

: anxiously nervous

3

: having great or excessive interest in or preoccupation with someone or something

—usually used with on

they broke up but he's still hung up on her

hung up on winning

Synonyms of hung up

• obsessed
• worried

Examples of hung up in a Sentence

Many people are hung up about their physical appearance.

parents of a toddler who are already hung up about her getting into a good college

Recent Examples on the Web

Those are the issues that have always puzzled me about people who get hung up on the idea of retroactive Social Security benefits. —Tom Margenau, Dallas Morning News, 15 Mar. 2026

It can also be hung up inside for a lively house party. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026

The Bluff stars Chopra Jonas as a former pirate captain who hung up her sword for a tranquil life until her sea captain is kidnapped by a former nemesis. —Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2026

Krishnamoorthi hung up as the car pulled over, and before the staffer could say anything to the trooper, Krishnamoorthi interjected. —Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hung up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup

Kids Definition

hung up

adjective

1

: delayed or detained for a time

2

: anxiously nervous

3

: much involved or concerned with something or someone

hung up on winning