hanging 1 of 3

Definition of hangingnext

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
Max Houser 6-Tier Hanging Closet Shelf Instantly create more hanging space with this fabric shelving unit that makes use of otherwise dead vertical space. Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Dec. 2025 Of the other methods – including electrocution, lethal gas and hanging – lethal injection had the highest botch rate of more than 7%. ‘An embrace of brutality’ Still, states have remained averse to the firing squad, a position that experts who spoke to CNN believe stems from its overt violence. Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025
Noun
Ashlyn Needham wrote in Southern Living that proper hanging matters more than people realize. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026 Ashlyn Needham, writing for Southern Living, explains that proper hanging makes the difference. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
Miranda Priestly is flying coach and hanging her own coat. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 May 2026 As the sun set below the tree line, the warm wood paneling turned a rich brown color that complemented the rattan light fixtures hanging above, giving the space a modern yet warm feeling. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for hanging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hanging
Adjective
  • While the design here is emphatically traditional, a dose of modern whimsy comes through with a dangling, multi-floor chandelier loosely inspired by jellyfish.
    Tori Latham, Robb Report, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Cernan, the junior pilot, was outside, dangling—actually spinning, tumbling, and flailing—at the end of a long umbilical cord, completely unable to control his movements.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 11 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The morning of the Olympic downhill race was sunny and bright.
    Becky Sullivan, NPR, 6 May 2026
  • Johnson, Shiffrin’s partner and the gold medalist in the downhill, had staked her to a narrow lead.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Businesses Business operations are on a case-by-case basis, depending on water access to the location.
    Paula Wethington, CBS News, 12 May 2026
  • These dusters are meant to be replaced frequently, often after one to three uses, depending on the size of the space and how dusty your home gets.
    Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • Start with tall bluebonnet stems on the left, fill the middle with medium-height ornamental onions, and finish the arrangement with softly drooping sweet peas on the right.
    Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Many of the symptoms of overwatering — wilting, yellowing leaves, drooping stems — look almost identical to those of underwatering, which is why so many people respond by reaching for the watering can again.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Beaches, a nomination shut-out, was down $44,518 to $475,601, with attendance at the Majestic hovering around the 50% of capacity mark.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 12 May 2026
  • Operating under an experimental permit, the mission successfully transitioned the hydrogen-electric Robinson R44 from basic hovering to a complete airport traffic circuit.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • Sixty percent of millennials think winning the lottery is a reasonable retirement plan, and 18% of all those surveyed are basing their retirement plans on hopes of hitting the jackpot someday.
    Boston Herald editorial staff, Boston Herald, 1 May 2026
  • That has prompted discussion of basing California’s funding model on enrollment instead.
    Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
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
  • The slightly lower ranking came amid recent La Nina conditions, which typically cause a temporary dip in global average temperatures.
    Dan Peck, ABC News, 14 May 2026
  • What That Spike Feels Like in Your Body This quick bump and dip in blood sugar translates to a surge in energy levels with an equally noticeable crash soon after.
    Christina Manian, Health, 14 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Hanging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hanging. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

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