as in remaining
to continue to be in a place for a significant amount of time
if you hang around until my husband gets home, you can meet him
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Recent Examples of hanging around
The bad news for the mid-majors hanging around the bubble right now — New Mexico, San Diego State, Santa Clara — is that their opportunities will be more scarce.
—
Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
In his on-court interview to cap Day 13, Djokovic thanked Court for hanging around to witness him end a streak of five losses to Sinner, and also snap a run of four semifinal defeats at the Grand Slam tournaments.
—Arkansas Online, 1 Feb. 2026
This ultra-comfy, ultra-soft two-piece lounge set is perfect for travel days, hanging around the house, or jetting around town, blowing through your to-do list.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 30 Jan. 2026
The combustion process can also create new hazards; scientists were surprised to find airborne nanoparticles of hexavalent chromium, the contaminant made famous by the movie Erin Brockovich, hanging around cleanup sites.
—Katharine Gammon, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
Each point helped stave off the Buffs, who kept hanging around.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 21 Jan. 2026
Later, things get uncomfortable when a group of high school boys start hanging around the bleachers and heckling the team.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Jan. 2026
Witnesses reportedly told police King had been hanging around outside the apartment, inquiring about Toney’s whereabouts, and was seen standing next to his body after the gunshots rang out.
—Tom Olsen, Twin Cities, 14 Jan. 2026
Chaves thought there could be movie in that relationship, wherein a monster was essentially hanging around with a saint.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 14 Jan. 2026
Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
In his on-court interview to cap Day 13, Djokovic thanked Court for hanging around to witness him end a streak of five losses to Sinner, and also snap a run of four semifinal defeats at the Grand Slam tournaments.
—Arkansas Online, 1 Feb. 2026
This ultra-comfy, ultra-soft two-piece lounge set is perfect for travel days, hanging around the house, or jetting around town, blowing through your to-do list.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 30 Jan. 2026
The combustion process can also create new hazards; scientists were surprised to find airborne nanoparticles of hexavalent chromium, the contaminant made famous by the movie Erin Brockovich, hanging around cleanup sites.
—Katharine Gammon, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
Each point helped stave off the Buffs, who kept hanging around.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 21 Jan. 2026
Later, things get uncomfortable when a group of high school boys start hanging around the bleachers and heckling the team.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Jan. 2026
Witnesses reportedly told police King had been hanging around outside the apartment, inquiring about Toney’s whereabouts, and was seen standing next to his body after the gunshots rang out.
—Tom Olsen, Twin Cities, 14 Jan. 2026
Chaves thought there could be movie in that relationship, wherein a monster was essentially hanging around with a saint.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hanging around
Verb
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Rosenior took the risk of a formation shift to keep his side in the match for as long as possible before taking the handbrake off with half an hour remaining.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
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The remaining bills passed Tuesday mean that the vast majority of the federal government has been funded.—
Kevin Freking,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Researchers hope that the TAL system could eventually be a viable strategy for patients who are waiting for donor lungs — specifically, those with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) along with necrotizing pneumonia or septic shock.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
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Officers then moved in on the nurses who did not give way, zip-tied their hands and led them to waiting police vans.—
Barry Williams,
New York Daily News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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During an interview with Fox News Digital at AARP's annual Movies for Grownups Awards in Beverly Hills, the 74-year-old actress reflected on aging and shared her secret to staying confident decade after decade.—
Ashley Hume , Larry Fink,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
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After all, staying fully charged feels like a premium perk without the premium price tag.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Are those customers sticking around?—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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Is winter sticking around or is an early spring ahead?—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hanging around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hanging%20around. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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