hang fire

phrase

Definition of hang firenext
as in delay
to move or act slowly He asked his team to hang fire until he was ready.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hang fire
  1. fall behind
  2. mark time
Phrase
  • Meanwhile, Pasquantino finished behind Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker, Massey fell behind Seattle Mariners second baseman Cole Young and Loftin came in second to Caleb Durbin of the Boston Red Sox.
    — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Card issuers are mitigating their exposure from borrowers who may fall behind on payments or default in the face of stubborn inflation in everyday expenses, said Matt Schulz, LendingTree's chief credit analyst.
    — Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of fall behind
Phrase
  • All the same, Adelaide believed in the importance of marking time.
    — Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The moon represents creation and destruction, rebirth, eternity, the feminine, time, marking time, mystery, the night, and secrets.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of mark time
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

hangers-on
hang fire
hang gliding
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hang fire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hang%20fire. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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