1
as in hangs (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 plays
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
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Recent Examples of hangs about
Turquoise pearl, and azure line the space, and a cylindrical hanging light sculpture made of hundreds of white and gold ceramic fish hangs about the lounge seating area.
—
Kristin Braswell, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026
The hot air just hangs about, causing the dish to cook unevenly with some spots nearly raw and others burnt.
—New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2025
Despite Dickens’ canonical reputation, the author of door-stoppers such as Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickeleby, the stench of the entrepreneurial still hangs about him.
—Literary Hub, 21 July 2025
Kristin Braswell, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026
The hot air just hangs about, causing the dish to cook unevenly with some spots nearly raw and others burnt.
—New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2025
Despite Dickens’ canonical reputation, the author of door-stoppers such as Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickeleby, the stench of the entrepreneurial still hangs about him.
—Literary Hub, 21 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hangs about
Verb
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Stellan Skarsgård plays an aging filmmaker whose selfish past led to an estrangement from his daughters and who wants to make a movie inspired by their mom.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
8 Mar. 2026
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Myers’ maternal half-brother is Quentin Grimes, who currently plays for the Philadelphia 76ers and spent part of the 2024-25 season with the Mavericks.—
Lia Assimakopoulos,
Dallas Morning News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Kutsenko, 31, steps outside into the freezing night, switches on a large rectangular generator and the power kicks back in.—
Kamila Hrabchuk,
Fortune,
8 Feb. 2026
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After a very chilly start to the day, with many spots in North Texas dipping into the 20s during the morning, our southerly flow kicks back in, which will lead to a steady warming trend over the next several days.—
McKenna King,
CBS News,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
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That project rests on decades of layered planning, established air rights and a transit hub designed to absorb extraordinary density.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
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In politics, evaluation usually rests on messaging and election results that often have little to do with day-to-day legislating.—
Matt Wing,
New York Daily News,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When enforcement activity impedes the rights to assemble, document and criticize government action, that chills those rights, and the consequences extend beyond any single demonstration.—
Yohuru Williams,
The Conversation,
4 Feb. 2026
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Apartments in the capital are freezing, and when venturing outside people wear heavy layers of clothes against the bitter cold that chills to the bone.—
Vasilisa Stepanenko,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Other standouts include a Maybelline mascara and a Black and Decker handheld vacuum, which makes quick work of small messes around the house and in the car.—
Isabel Garcia,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Then Jason and Thor shower together, each lathering the other’s back and bums up with fewer orgasms than an old Herbal Essences commercial.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
4 Feb. 2026
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The cranky and irritating backseat driver, who bums a lift midway through the Griswolds' adventure, also has with her the easily excitable pooch Dinky.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hangs about.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hangs%20about. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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