hanging 1 of 3

hanging

2 of 3

noun

hanging

3 of 3

verb

present participle of hang
1
2
as in depending
to be determined by, based on, or subject (to) our plan to go to the amusement park has all been worked out; now it just hangs on the weather

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3
as in drooping
to be limp from lack of water or vigor as they neared the end of the long, hard march all but the most hardy were hanging, and some could barely put one foot in front of the other

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
as in hovering
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air hanging just above the horizon was a little pink cloud

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
as in basing
to find a basis that's very slim evidence upon which to hang a theory

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of hanging
Adjective
Believe it or not, many modern garment bags come with extra storage features for things like laptops, shoes, and non-hanging clothes. Hillary Maglin, Travel + Leisure, 6 May 2022 One such trip for Buttigieg happens to be to New Hampshire Monday to do two hanging-curveball events—one on expanding commuter rail, the other on money in the infrastructure bill to improve the Manchester mill yard. Daniel Strauss, The New Republic, 13 Dec. 2021
Noun
Protests broke out in several cities, including a hanging of the billionaire in effigy in Milan and posters in London likening him to a Nazi. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025 The inline-four engine is longitudinally mounted midship, where the rear seat used to be, with the five-speed gearbox hanging aft. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
After the catch from Mahomes was intercepted by the Eagles' defense in the fourth, Kelce was seen hanging his head and pacing the sidelines. Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025 The gems do just enough to keep the top decent, with a few hanging pieces across her bellybutton. Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 14 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hanging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hanging
Noun
  • Gateway is designed for hammering fast laps, with a gravel road climbing to the top of a ridge that provides access to the downhill singletrack.
    Graham Averill, Outside, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Sanders took the approach of a speedy downhill runner compared to Jordan’s meandering style and also caught a short pass from Maiava and ran it in 74 yards for a touchdown and returned punts for USC in the second quarter.
    Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 31 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The office was light-filled and airy, with a wooden swing dangling from the ceiling.
    Clare Malone, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Like dangling cords kids or pets can get into or trip over.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • There are multiple ways to use the Hair Steamer, depending on your hair and preferences.
    Megan McIntyre, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
  • The timing and intensity of peak foliage vary from year to year, depending on several factors, such as drought conditions, rainfall, temperature, soil content, and the types of trees, as well as cloud cover.
    Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • To emphasize the sad state of affairs, Ilett updated his followers on another bad hair day from inside a running shower, his matted locks drooping to his cheekbones.
    Don Riddell, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Young trees usually don’t require pruning, though older ones can be shaped for aesthetics to remove drooping limbs, says Simpson.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • No more hovering at the oven door.
    Matt Emma, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
  • One way or the other, the current mood doesn’t feel sustainable, and the Penguins can’t enter the season with this speculation hovering over their heads.
    Josh Yohe, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This is a warmonger that is basing his policy decisions around the region on narcissism and political ambitions that don't go beyond staying in power for no more than one month.
    Leila Fadel, NPR, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Some of these will always fail, some will complete with a breakout, and some will continue basing.
    Randy Watts, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • James O’Donoghue, a planetary scientist with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, likened our planet’s tilting phenomenon to a nodding head.
    Aylin Woodward, WSJ, 21 Dec. 2021
Noun
  • Even as Nintendo has endlessly mined its classic consoles for nostalgic re-releases in recent decades, the company has seemed to completely ignore the existence of the Virtual Boy—its abortive 1990s dip into the world of early virtual reality.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
  • But there are some optimistic signs—traffic dips and sales declines are slowing, per Restaurant Dive, and Starbucks’s China business is also improving.
    Molly Liebergall, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hanging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hanging. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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