hang-up

1 of 2

noun

ˈhaŋ-ˌəp 

: a source of mental or emotional difficulty

broadly : problem

hang up

2 of 2

verb

hung up; hanging up; hangs up

transitive verb

1

a

: to place on a hook or hanger designed for the purpose

hang up your coat

b

: to replace (a telephone receiver) on the cradle so that the connection is broken

2

: to keep delayed, suspended, or held up

3

: to cause to stick or snag immovably

the ship was hung up on a sandbar

intransitive verb

1

: to break a telephone connection

2

: to become stuck or snagged so as to be immovable

Synonyms

Noun

• affliction
• demon
• daemon
• terror
• torment

Examples of hang-up in a Sentence

Noun

low self-esteem is only one of his many hang-ups

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But a new method created by a team at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology avoids these hang-ups. —Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Oct. 2024

His music is a blast—and a challenge to the psychological hang-ups of modern partygoers, including himself. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2024

Verb

Just then, the man and her mother and brothers appeared at the top of the stairs, in time to see Tiffany hang up the phone. —Stephanie Warsmith and Paula Schleis, USA TODAY, 19 Oct. 2024

Learning to become a bespoke tailor—and then launch your own business—is not easy at any age, and speaks to MacLeod’s hunger to keep his hands busy after hanging up his 9-to-5. —Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 18 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1952, in the meaning defined above

Verb

12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

hang-up

1 of 2 noun

ˈhaŋ-ˌəp

: a source of mental or emotional difficulty

hang up

2 of 2 verb

(ˈ)haŋ-ˈəp

1

a

: to place on a hook or hanger

hang up your coat

b

: to replace a telephone receiver on the cradle so that the connection is broken

also : to end a telephone conversation

2

: to snag or cause to snag so as to be immovable

a boat hung up on rocks