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
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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
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
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There’s something about just kicking back at home, watching the matches with loved ones, and pulling out some games that center on sports.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Parents,
10 June 2026
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Madix also loves kicking back at the day clubs, with her top picks encompassing a range of experiences.—
Rachel Chang,
Travel + Leisure,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Dallas Stadium’s long-term grass future Once engineers figured out that drainage was a major problem in sustaining quality grass indoors, putting down a playing surface for a football, futbol or a soccer game wasn’t that hard.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 June 2026
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Even playing in the large San Francisco market and increasing payroll from $175 million in 2024 to $210 million in 2026.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
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Husband and wife duo Cristina Marzolf and Matthew Marzolf, both 25, had been kicking around the concept of Press’d Cafe and Lounge, a family-friendly tropical escape that sells smoothies, juices and food for years.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2026
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There are a few great Star Wars arcade games still kicking around, but this one is my personal favorite.—
Alex James Kane,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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Based on the Los Angeles and Atlanta terminals, travelers on domestic flights typically spend one hour lounging before going through security, and those on international flights take about 90 minutes, Porter said.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2026
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Beautifully landscaped, it shifts from shallow lounging areas suitable for children into deeper sections for proper swimming.—
Arion McNicoll,
TheWeek,
15 June 2026
Verb
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Kylian liked messing around, having a laugh and telling jokes — just like the rest of us.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
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All of our memories are traveling the world, messing around, having fun, and being teenagers.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
22 May 2026
Verb
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The movie ends with a shot of the girls sitting by the pool, with Sonya’s head resting on Coley’s shoulder.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
19 June 2026
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The pieces can be separated to create extra resting space during meal prep or repurposed as vessels for nuts or olives at your next happy hour.—
Mina Dragani,
Architectural Digest,
18 June 2026
Verb
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But the effect on small businesses has been chilling, with thousands simply halting trade with the EU altogether, and still more considering it.—
Hanna Ziady,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
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Ice bags and cold towels may make players feel cooler, but experts say briefly chilling a small patch of skin does not necessarily pull much heat from the body’s core.—
Chris Stokel-Walker,
Scientific American,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hanging about.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hanging%20about. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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