hangs about

verb

present tense third-person singular of hang about, British
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

Relevance

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

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 hangs about Though the sisters are supposedly first-generation Italian American, no whiff of the old country hangs about Kay; Dorothy will at least spit out a few words in Italian. — Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hangs about
  1. kicks back
  2. plays
  3. rests
  4. messes around
  5. chills
  6. bums
Verb
  • Well … that’s where my skepticism kicks back in.
    — Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026
  • With their mandatory minicamp wrapping up on Thursday, the Chicago Bears get some time to rest before offseason programming kicks back into gear.
    — Jayna Bardahl, New York Times, 11 June 2026
Definition of kicks back
Verb
  • What the Study Found A team of researchers at Texas A&M University set out to determine whether the NR4A1 receptor plays a role in the anti-aging benefits of coffee.
    — Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Esparza plays the unhinged tyrant with a quickness, his bright eyes darting and weaving with each newfangled notion.
    — Christopher Barnard, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of plays
Verb
  • The captain’s chairs are heated, feature LATCH and top-tether anchors, have individual arm rests that fold flush into the seat edge, and have built-in cup holders that flip down from the seat’s inside edge.
    — Joel Feder, The Drive, 13 Aug. 2026
  • These countries’ economic viability rests on the assumption of a standing Chinese bid.
    — Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of rests
Verb
  • 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
Definition of messes around
Verb
  • Authorities say the case grew from overseas shipments flagged by customs, marking a third round of national security arrests that further chills Hong Kong’s already precarious independent book trade.
    — Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
  • This nifty side table chills beverages for hours while doubling as a convenient spot to set down drinks or snacks.
    — Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
Definition of chills
Verb
  • Critical thinking really bums them out.
    — Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
  • 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
Definition of bums

Browse Nearby Words

hangs
hangs about
hangs around
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hangs about.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hangs%20about. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of circumscribe

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All