hangout

1 of 2

noun

hang·​out ˈhaŋ-ˌau̇t 

: a favorite place for spending time

also : a place frequented for entertainment or for socializing

hang out

2 of 2

verb

hung out; hanging out; hangs out

1

intransitive : to protrude and droop

a dog with its tongue hanging out

2

intransitive informal : to spend time idly or in relaxing or socializing

just hanging out by the pool

My mother told me not to hang out in bars because the sort of people I would meet there were the sort of people who hang out in bars.

—Calvin Trillin

Traditionally, most owners [of sports teams] are rich egomaniacs eager to hang out with athletes and get their names in the paper.

—George Vecsey

3

transitive : to display (something) outside as an announcement to the public

hang out a sign/banner

—used chiefly in the phrase hang out a/one's shingle in the figurative sense "to start a business, begin working professionally"

Publishing was not as complicated a business … when young Alfred Knopf hung out his shingle nearly 70 years ago.

—John F. Baker

Back then big L.A. law firms rarely hired Jews … . So Sterling hung out a shingle in Boyle Heights and became a tireless advocate for his old neighbors, handling everything from divorces to personal injury cases.

—Franz Lidz

Synonyms

Noun

• haunt
• purlieu
• rendezvous
• resort
• stamping ground
• stomping ground

Examples of hangout in a Sentence

Noun

The park was their favorite hangout.

a favorite hangout of senior citizens is the local community center

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Notably, parking lots are not among the animal's typical hangouts — but Leggio's, where Cerase spotted the scurrying stoat, is located near a stream, according to WNEP. —Bailey Richards, People.com, 9 Mar. 2025

Dining The hotel’s all-day dining destination, Ajax Downtown (sister restaurant of Ajax Tavern in Aspen), is a lively hangout for locals and visitors alike. —Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025

Verb

Want to hang out with George and Amal Clooney on Italy’s Lake Como and be pampered to the hilt, all for a good cause? —Nick Vivarelli For Variety, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2025

Look at how Apple encourages people to hang out in their stores, or how Parkrun creates a social atmosphere after runs (adding depth to the leaderboard). —Jodie Cook, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1893, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hangout

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

hangout

noun

hang·​out ˈhaŋ-ˌau̇t 

: a favorite place for spending time