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

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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

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
  • A lot of great actors are based around there, and there were others like Lubna Azabal who plays Julia Felix.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2026
  • Sean Clements Rated PG-13, 1 hour 43 minutes Johnson plays Dustin Boyd, whose laser-focused, hardass father Chuck (Ed Harris) trained him for tennis excellence from early childhood.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2026
Definition of plays
Verb
  • The economic argument for central bank independence rests on the idea that a politically motivated central bank might be tempted to exploit that short run tradeoff to juice the economy at the long run expense of price stability.
    — Steve Liesman, CNBC, 22 July 2026
  • The whole economic model rests on most traders never getting there, and never getting paid.
    — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 22 July 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

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Cite this Entry

“Hangs about.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hangs%20about. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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