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

Despite the hang-up, however, Johnson is vowing to find a solution for moving one bill, brushing aside Graham’s move and refusing to give up on his preferred strategy. —Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 6 Feb. 2025

Things don’t get any better once her parents accept their daughter is telepathic; Julia, as the caring mother, uses it as an opportunity to give Marielle a lesson in hang-up free sexuality (a concept that follows on from Hambalek’s first feature Model Olimpia), but that too misfires. —Jay D. Weissberg, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2025

Verb

The agents said the green card was being revoked and hung up on Greer, according to the lawyer and Khalil’s wife, who has requested anonymity. —Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2025

More news: Raiders Reportedly Land QB Geno Smith From Seahawks in Massive Trade Originally after the Jets' decision to move on from Rodgers, many thought the future Hall of Fame quarterback could hang up his cleats and retire. —William Lambers, Newsweek, 8 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1952, in the meaning defined above

Verb

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

Rhymes for hang-up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup

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