HANGING ABOUT Synonyms: 84 Similar and Opposite Words

hanging about

verb

present participle of hang about, British

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in playing

to spend time in aimless activity we'll be hanging about at the pub if you need us

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 about President James Garfield’s assassin, Charles Guiteau, died by hanging about five months after he was convicted of murder. — USA Today, 17 June 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hanging about

Verb

Before the fire, patrons were kicking back cold ones about a block from Down the Hatch.

— David Dickstein, Oc Register, 5 Aug. 2026
But instead of kicking back, Nadal’s been busy building a hotel empire.

— Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 7 July 2026

Definition of kicking back

Verb

The fantasy of a cultural architecture that’s as flexible as culture itself has been kicking around for more than 100 years, and there’s something obscurely disappointing about seeing a technocratic version get put into practice.

— Justin Davidson, Curbed, 29 July 2026
Within the venue gates but outside the stands, groups of friends were playing cornhole and having picnic dinners from food trucks parked onsite; older attendees were chatting and kids were kicking around mini soccer balls.

— Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 7 July 2026

Definition of kicking around

Verb

Zeus did not approve of his daughter fooling around with this mortal roughneck hunter and put out a hit on Orion.

— Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
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

Definition of fooling around

Verb

The beach was packed, many vacationers lounging near the turquoise waters when the drone slammed into the white sand and burst into a fireball.

— Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 4 Aug. 2026
The 59-year-old actress posed topless while lounging by the pool during her Fiji Islands getaway with Van Hunt.

— Lara Walsh, InStyle, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of lounging

Verb

The Chicago Cubs weren’t messing around at the trade deadline.

— Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
His first two features were loose, low-budget films starring himself and made by messing around with friends; they were built on spontaneity and the belief that a movie reveals itself in the edit.

— Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 July 2026

Definition of messing around

Verb

Dogs spend a significant portion of their day resting, which is why supportive bedding can be a worthwhile investment, particularly for aging dogs, larger breeds or pets that love long afternoon naps.

— Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2026
The leaders who got the training avoided the rise in burnout and resting heart rate that a comparison group experienced over the same stretch, and leaders who engaged with more of the program saw a bigger effect.

— Rhett Power, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of resting

Verb

Turning off instruments and heaters in the frigid temperatures of interstellar space risks chilling the probes beyond repair.

— Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
Nothing chilling happened on the set of the sequel, but the original Practical Magic set was seemingly cursed by a real-life witch that was brought on as a consultant.

— Janey Wetzel, PEOPLE, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of chilling

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“Hanging about.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hanging%20about. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of hanging about

verb

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