hung up

1 of 2

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

hung up

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of hang up

Synonyms of hung up

Adjective

• obsessed
• worried

Examples of hung up in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Adjective

In Carey's video, which now sits at over 1 million views, a grid of round RYE loaves is the only art hung up on a greyish, beige wall inside. — Owen Carry, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026

Another letter cited in the trial referred to a phone call between the siblings in which Diana hung up on her brother. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026

But the thing about Michael that everybody really seems to be hung up on, and rightfully so, is the story about him buying Vicki an engagement ring and then withholding it based on her behavior. — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026

Officers said a person called in the shooting and quickly hung up. — Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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