1
as in hanging (around or out)
to spend time doing nothing
a tea house near campus where many university students could be seen hanging about
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in playing
to spend time in aimless activity
we'll be hanging about at the pub if you need us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of hanging about
In 2019, city employees began hanging about 500 trick-or-treat pumpkin buckets in the trees on Main Street every October.
—
Elliott Harrell, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2025
Orion Nebula Those viewing from a dark sky location may also notice a blurry patch of light hanging about 5 degrees below Orion's belt.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2025
The student was found hanging about 50 feet up in a tree with the open chute, Metro Nashville Police Department said on X Saturday.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025
Elliott Harrell, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2025
Orion Nebula Those viewing from a dark sky location may also notice a blurry patch of light hanging about 5 degrees below Orion's belt.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2025
The student was found hanging about 50 feet up in a tree with the open chute, Metro Nashville Police Department said on X Saturday.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hanging about
Verb
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Former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun was also found guilty Thursday of playing a major role in the insurrection and sentenced to 30 years in prison.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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On a frigid night recently, about a dozen people arrived at the Evanston Public Library to try playing a new game created by Steven Franconeri, a Northwestern University psychology professor.—
Jeff Banowetz,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The transition was rough for Ansari, who wasn’t fluent in English and often got in trouble for fooling around in school.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
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Gisin hopes that by fooling around with measurements of these more exotic states, physicists will come to better understand the role of measurement in general.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Instead, the board opts for the happy-go-lucky concert attendee kicking back a beer or two as its foil to scary THC use.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
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There’s nothing wrong with spending your vacation at the beach, on a shopping spree in Paris or New York, or kicking back at a fishing cabin.—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Bobby and Mickey were kicking around this idea of taking Grateful Dead music and modernizing it, technologically.—
Shirley Halperin,
Rolling Stone,
17 Feb. 2026
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The group didn’t know much at all about golf course development, turning to Google and ChatGPT to figure out the footprint of an average golf course, and kicking around ideas amongst themselves about who to call about design and architecture.—
Erik Matuszewski,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Most people are messing around charging far too little for clients who don't appreciate them.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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No messing around — just wham, bam, thank you, GLAM!—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Some travelers love vacations that involve doing absolutely nothing—trips where lounging by the beach or pool, napping, reading, or going for a light swim are the most rigorous activities on the agenda.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Feb. 2026
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The fabric drapes for a put-together look equally suitable for lounging on a couch, sitting on a plane, running errands, or having brunch with friends.—
Paige Bennett,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Keep the iron moving – never leave it resting in one spot.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
19 Feb. 2026
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Also, the lamp has been turned into a miniature homage to cubism (and its lampshade is hovering in the air, not resting on anything).—
Benjamin Lima,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Practices and games begin in January and expose players to harsh weather and unnecessary injuries while fans watch games in bone-chilling cold or do not attend at all.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
13 Feb. 2026
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Of course the main lobby restaurant, Le Jardin, which has icy buckets chilling wine and the near-constant scent of truffles in the air during its 24-hour service, is always packed.—
Megan Spurrell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hanging about.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hanging%20about. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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