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
Farahmand said the hangings are also intended to counter a growing perception — inside Iran and among opponents abroad — that sustained attacks on the police and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) could eventually fracture the state’s coercive power. Mohammed Tawfeeq, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026 Iran executed three men on Thursday who were accused of killing police officers during protests in January, with activists warning of the risk of a new surge in hangings as war rages with Israel and the United States. CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
Projections of constant rain hanging high on the back walls reinforce stormy times. Amy Reyes, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026 Mother Nature decided to rain on the parade, but even before that, there was a dark cloud hanging over the annual celebration. John Ramos, CBS News, 12 Apr. 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
  • His excellent size-speed combination, and aggressive downhill style creates disruption and turnover chances.
    Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Downs, 21, a 6-foot, 206-pound game wrecker, is an Alabama transfer who disrupts offenses consistently with a high football IQ and a downhill, violent play style.
    Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • This setup allows the aircraft to carry up to 12 cruise missiles or around 50 medium-sized drones, depending on the mission.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026
  • However, fans will have a chance to be selected for standing room seating, depending on availability, as the draft goes on, the league added.
    Michael Guise, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Renowned for its extended bloom period, this lovely flower boasts daisy-like blossoms with prominent orange-brown centers and drooping lavender-purple petals.
    SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Wilting or drooping leaves may be obvious but also pay attention to the color.
    Lauren David, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Large black and yellow bees keep hovering around my wooden pergola.
    Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2026
  • The average price of gas is hovering at near $4 a gallon for regular.
    Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Major opposition groups had resisted the bill, warning that basing constituencies on population data taken from the 2011 census could shift political power toward faster-growing northern states while reducing the representation, seat share, and influence of southern regions.
    ABC News, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
  • With this in mind, WalletHub released its report on 2026's best airlines, basing its ranking on criteria such as safety, delays, baggage issues, comfort, and more.
    Molly Burford, Southern Living, 14 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
  • Expect a dip in humidity by Monday afternoon, which will help temperatures rise, along with southwest winds.
    Michael Autovino, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Only Rivian, Audi and Land Rover saw bigger dips.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 23 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Hanging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hanging. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.

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