hang

1 of 2

verb

ˈhaŋ 

hung ˈhəŋ  also hanged ˈhaŋd  ; hanging ˈhaŋ-iŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to fasten to some elevated point without support from below : suspend

hang a picture on the wall

b

: to suspend by the neck until dead

—often hanged in the past

—often used as a mild oath

I'll be hanged

c

: to fasten so as to allow free motion within given limits upon a point of suspension

hang a door

d

: to adjust the hem of (a skirt) so as to hang evenly and at a proper height

2

: to furnish with hanging decorations (such as flags or bunting)

Hang the windows with velvet curtains.

a room hung with streamers

3

: to hold or bear in a suspended or inclined manner

hung his head in shame

4

: to apply to a wall

hang wallpaper

5

: to display (pictures) in a gallery

6

baseball : to throw (a pitch, such as a curveball) so that it fails to break properly

7

: to make (a turn) especially while driving

hang a right

hung a quick U-turn

—Tom Clancy

8

: base, found

something to hang our hopes on

intransitive verb

1

a

: to remain suspended or fastened to some point above without support from below : dangle

b

: to die by being suspended by the neck

—often hanged in the past

He hanged for his crimes.

c

: to be connected as something relevant or related

thereby hangs a tale

—William Shakespeare

2

: to hover or remain stationary in the air

clouds hanging low overhead

3

: linger, persist

The thought hung in her mind for days.

4

: to be imminent : impend

doom hung over the nation

5

: to fall or droop from a usually tense or taut position

let the reins hang loose on the horse's back

Their mouths hung open in disbelief.

6

: depend

election hangs on one vote

7

a(1)

: to take hold for support : cling

she hung on his arm

(2)

: to keep persistent contact

dogs hung to the trail

(3)

: to maintain or continue holding a position

hang behind

(4)

: to stay even : keep up

—usually used with with

trying to hang with the leader

b

: to be burdensome or oppressive

time hangs on his hands

8

: to be uncertain or in suspense

the decision is still hanging

9

: to lean, incline, or jut over or downward

a rocky cliff that hangs overhead

10

: to be in a state of rapt attention

hung on her every word

11

: to fit or fall from the figure in easy lines

the coat hangs loosely

12

informal : to pass time idly or in relaxing or socializing : hang around, hang out

hanging with friends

hanging at the beach

Off the track, Jones was all but invisible in Sydney. She prefers hanging with her husband … and a small inner circle of friends.

—Mark Starr

I had the chance to hang with Taibbi recently after he spoke to a Denver audience about his new book …

—David Sirota

13

of a thrown ball : to fail to break or drop as intended

hangable

ˈhaŋ-ə-bəl 

adjective

Hanged vs. Hung: Usage Guide

For both transitive and intransitive senses 1b the past and past participle hung, as well as hanged, is standard. Hanged is most appropriate for official executions

he was to be hanged, cut down whilst still alive … and his bowels torn out

—Louis Allen

but hung is also used.

gave orders that she should be hung

—Peter Quennell

Hung is more appropriate for less formal hangings.

by morning I'll be hung in effigy

—Ronald Reagan

hang

2 of 2

noun

1

: the manner in which a thing is poised when suspended from above without support from below : the way in which a thing hangs (see hang entry 1)

the hang of a skirt

2

: declivity, slope

also : droop

the hang of his lower lip

3

: facility with or an understanding of something

can't get the hang of this

4

: a hesitation or slackening in motion or in a course

a marked hang of the oar in the air before it dipped

Phrases

hang fire

1

: to be slow in the explosion of a charge after its primer has been discharged

2

: delay, hesitate

3

: to remain unsettled or unresolved

The plans had to hang fire until the city council approved them.

hang it up

: to cease an activity or effort

We all agreed it was time to hang it up.

hang loose

: to remain calm or relaxed

hang one on

1

: to inflict a blow on

wanted to hang one on him

2

slang : to get very drunk

hang out to dry

: to leave stranded in a hopeless or dangerous situation

The company hung us out to dry.

hang one's hat

1

: to situate oneself in a place (such as a residence or place of employment)

looking for a new place to hang my hat

2

hang one's hat on : to have or use (something) as a source of support

need a career to hang my hat on

hang ten

: to ride a surfboard with the toes of both feet turned over the front edge

hang tough

: to remain resolute in the face of adversity : hang in

give a hang or care a hang

: to be the least bit concerned or worried

She doesn't give a hang whether she wins or not.

Synonyms

Verb

• dangle
• sling
• suspend
• swing

Noun

• declension
• decline
• declivity
• descent
• dip
• downgrade
• downhill
• fall
• hanging

Examples of hang in a Sentence

Verb

He hung the painting on the wall.

We hung paper lanterns from the trees.

My grandmother used to hang the wash on a clothesline.

A photograph of her family hangs on the wall.

Several of her paintings are hanging in the Museum of Modern Art.

Your coat is hanging in the closet.

They plan to hang wallpaper in the hallway.

He let his arm hang down into the water.

They will hang him in the county jailhouse.

He was hanged for his crimes.

Noun

the hang of a skirt

proceeded carefully on snowshoes down the steep hang

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

From wooden garden pergolas, paper marigolds hung above the performers’ feather headdresses. —Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024

But even if that were to pass, the looming threat of injury will hang over this squad. —Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024

Noun

The 8-year-old also smiles big beside her Lilo and Stitch birthday cake while holding up a hang loose hand sign. —Emma Aerin Becker, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024

The song’s a bit silly, but the hang was unbelievable. —Devon Ivie, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

partly from Middle English hon, from Old English hōn, transitive verb; partly from Middle English hangen, from Old English hangian, intransitive verb & transitive verb; both akin to Old High German hāhan, transitive verb, to hang, hangēn, intransitive verb — more at cunctation

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

circa 1797, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hang

• a peg to hang (something) on
• care a hang
• get the hang of
• give a hang
• go hang
• hang about
• hang around
• hang back
• hang/burn in effigy
• hang by a thread
• hang glider
• hang in
• hang in the air
• hang in there
• hang off
• hang on
• hang one's head
• hang one's head in shame
• hang on someone's every word
• hang on to
• hang out
• hang out one's shingle
• hang tight
• hang time
• hang together
• hang up
• hang with
• hold/hang on a minute
• hold/hang on a moment
• let it all hang out

Kids Definition

hang

1 of 2 verb

ˈhaŋ 

hung ˈhəŋ  also hanged ˈhaŋd  ; hanging ˈhaŋ-iŋ 

1

a

: to fasten or be fastened to an elevated point without support from below : suspend, dangle

b

: to kill or be killed by hanging from a rope tied round the neck

sentenced to be hanged

c

: to fasten so as to allow free motion forward and backward

hang a door

2

: to furnish with hanging decorations (as pictures or curtains)

3

: droop entry 1 sense 1

hung my head in shame

4

: to fasten to a wall

hang wallpaper

5

: to display pictures in a gallery

6

: hover sense 1b

clouds hanging low overhead

7

: to stay steadily

8

: depend sense 1

election hangs on one vote

9

a

: to take hold for support : cling

the children hung on his arm

b

: to be hard to bear

worry hung on his mind

10

: to be uncertain

the decision is still hanging

11

: to be in a state of close attention

hung on my every word

12

informal : to pass time idly especially by relaxing or socializing

—often used with around or out

hung out with friends

hangable

ˈhaŋ-ə-bəl 

adjective

hang

2 of 2 noun

1

: the manner in which a thing hangs

the hang of a skirt

2

a

: meaning entry 1 sense 1b

the hang of an argument

b

: a special method : knack

get the hang of driving

Legal Definition

hang

verb

hung also hanged; hanging

transitive verb

: to suspend by the neck until dead especially as a form of execution

—often hanged in the past tense

intransitive verb

1

: to die by hanging

—often hanged in the past tense

he hanged for his crimes

2

: to be unable to reach a decision or verdict

the jury hung on 19 counts against [him]

—Randall Samborn