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
  • Those borrowers who fell behind on their student loans and were deemed delinquent saw their FICO score decline by an average of 38 points.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
  • After falling behind by double digits midway through the third quarter, Salaun and Tip Hayes powered a 17-3 run to end the quarter with a 51-49 Golden State lead.
    — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of fall behind
Phrase
  • 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 25 Aug. 2026.

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