hanging about

verb

present participle of hang about, British
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 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
  1. kicking back
  2. playing
  3. kicking around
  4. fooling around
  5. lounging
  6. messing around
Verb
  • Vikings right tackle Brian O'Neill and left guard Donovan Jackson immediately turned toward the sideline to motion for the medical team, with Murray lying on his side and his legs kicking back and forth.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2026
  • Downstairs, a dedicated lounge features a multi-screen entertainment setup, creating the perfect spot for game days, movie nights or simply kicking back with family and friends.
    — Doris Alvarez Cea, Florida Times-Union, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of kicking back
Verb
  • The Miami Hurricanes are back on the road and playing under the lights in a key Atlantic Coast Conference game.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2026
  • And his relatives in turn gave notes to the actors playing their younger selves and were encouraged to interrogate Ba as his coming-of-age story was dramatized.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of playing
Verb
  • Jac Schaeffer, that show's creator, was scheduled to helm this follow-up as well before bowing out of the Marvel machine, and VisionQuest has been kicking around in development for a bit.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026
  • If there had been a Season 2, Uziel was already kicking around some ideas.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 10 Sep. 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
  • If lounging by the water gets old, the resort runs a wide range of complimentary activities, from yoga sessions to an aloe scrub–making class.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Keep scrolling to shop more Cozy Earth essentials for lounging, sleeping, and gifting at Nordstrom.
    — Vivien Lee, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of lounging
Verb
  • There will be no more messing around with draggy eye pencils or the emperor’s new eye shadows.
    — Elizabeth Siegel, Allure, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Both of France’s sons seem to appreciate imaginative play over messing around with action figures, something that makes perfect sense given France’s own love for the arts.
    — Marah Eakin, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of messing around

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hanging
hanging about
hanging around
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Cite this Entry

“Hanging about.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hanging%20about. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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