hang (hangs 3rd person present) (hanging present participle) (hung past tense & past participle) (hanged past tense & past participle )
The form hung is used as the past tense and past participle. The form hanged is used as the past tense for meaning 5.
1 verb If something hangs in a high place or position, or if you hang it there, it is attached there so it does not touch the ground.
Notices painted on sheets hang at every entrance... V prep/adv
...small hanging lanterns... V-ing
They saw a young woman come out of the house to hang clothes on a line. V n prep/adv
Hang up means the same as hang., phrasal verb
I found his jacket, which was hanging up in the hallway... V P
Some prisoners climbed onto the roof and hung up a banner. V P n (not pron), Also V n P
2 verb If a piece of clothing or fabric hangs in a particular way or position, that is how it is worn or arranged.
...a ragged fur coat that hung down to her calves... V adv/prep
3 verb If something hangs loose or hangs open, it is partly fixed in position, but is not firmly held, supported, or controlled, often in such a way that it moves freely.
...her long golden hair which hung loose about her shoulders... V adj
4 verb If something such as a wall is hung with pictures or other objects, they are attached to it.
usu passive
The walls were hung with huge modern paintings. be V-ed with n
5 verb If someone is hanged or if they hang, they are killed, usually as a punishment, by having a rope tied around their neck and the support taken away from under their feet.
The five were expected to be hanged at 7 am on Tuesday... be V-ed
It is right that their murderers should hang... V
He hanged himself two hours after arriving at a mental hospital. V pron-refl
hanging (hangings plural) n-var
Four steamboat loads of spectators came to view a hanging in New Orleans.
6 verb If something such as someone's breath or smoke hangs in the air, it remains there without appearing to move or change position.
His breath was hanging in the air before him... V prep/adv
7 verb If a possibility hangs over you, it worries you and makes your life unpleasant or difficult because you think it might happen.
A constant threat of unemployment hangs over thousands of university researchers... V over n
9 If you get the hang of something such as a skill or activity, you begin to understand or realize how to do it.
INFORMAL
get the hang of sth phrase V inflects: PHR n
It's a bit tricky at first till you get the hang of it.
10 If you tell someone to hang in there or to hang on in there, you are encouraging them to keep trying to do something and not to give up even though it might be difficult.
INFORMAL
hang in there/hang on in there phrase V inflects
Hang in there and you never know what you might achieve.
11
→
to hang by a thread
→
thread hang around
in BRIT, also use hang about, hang round
1 phrasal verb If you hang around, hang about, or hang round, you stay in the same place doing nothing, usually because you are waiting for something or someone.
INFORMAL He got sick of hanging around waiting for me... V P -ing
On Saturdays we hang about in the park. V P
...those people hanging round the streets at 6 am with nowhere to go. V P n
2 phrasal verb If you hang around, hang about, or hang round with someone or in a particular place, you spend a lot of time with that person or in that place.
INFORMAL They usually hung around together most of the time... V P together
Helen used to hang round with the boys. V P with n
...the usual young crowd who hung around the cafe day in and day out. V P n hang back
1 phrasal verb If you hang back, you move or stay slightly behind a person or group, usually because you are nervous about something.
I saw him step forward momentarily but then hang back, nervously massaging his hands. V P
2 phrasal verb If a person or organization hangs back, they do not do something immediately.
They will then hang back on closing the deal... V P on n
Even his closest advisers believe he should hang back no longer. V P hang on
1 phrasal verb If you ask someone to hang on, you ask them to wait or stop what they are doing or saying for a moment.
INFORMAL
(=hold on)
Can you hang on for a minute?... V P
Hang on a sec. I'll come with you. V P n
2 phrasal verb If you hang on, you manage to survive, achieve success, or avoid failure in spite of great difficulties or opposition.
Manchester United hung on to take the Cup. V P
3 phrasal verb If you hang onto or hang onto something that gives you an advantage, you succeed in keeping it for yourself, and prevent it from being taken away or given to someone else.
The British driver was unable to hang on to his lead... V P to n
The company has been struggling to hang onto its sales force. V P n
4 phrasal verb If you hang onto or hang onto something, you hold it very tightly, for example to stop it falling or to support yourself.
(=cling)
She was conscious of a second man hanging on to the rail. V P to n
...a flight stewardess who helped save the life of a pilot by hanging onto his legs... V P n
He hangs on tightly, his arms around my neck. V P
5 phrasal verb If you hang onto or hang onto something, you keep it for a longer time than you would normally expect.
INFORMAL You could, alternatively, hang onto it in the hope that it will be worth millions in 10 years time... V P n
In the present climate, owners are hanging on to old ships. V P to n
6 phrasal verb If one thing hangs on another, it depends on it in order to be successful.
(=depend)
Much hangs on the success of the collaboration between the Group of Seven governments and Brazil. V P n hang out
1 phrasal verb If you hang out clothes that you have washed, you hang them on a clothes line to dry.
I was worried I wouldn't be able to hang my washing out. V n P, Also V P n (not pron)
2 phrasal verb If you hang out in a particular place or area, you go and stay there for no particular reason, or spend a lot of time there.
(mainly AM)
INFORMAL I often used to hang out in supermarkets... V P adv/prep
We can just hang out and have a good time. V P
→
hangout hang round
→
hang around hang up
2 phrasal verb If you hang up or you hang up the phone, you end a phone call. If you hang upon someone you are speaking to on the phone, you end the phone call suddenly and unexpectedly.
Mum hung up the phone... V P n (not pron)
Don't hang up!... V P
He said he'd call again, and hung up on me. V P on n
3 phrasal verb You can use hang up to indicate that someone stops doing a particular sport or activity that they have regularly done over a long period. For example, when a footballer hangs up his boots, he stops playing football.
Keegan announced he was hanging up his boots for good... V P n (not pron), Also V n P
hang-glider (hang-gliders plural ), hang glider A hang-glider is a type of glider, made from large piece of cloth fixed to a frame. It is used to fly from high places, with the pilot hanging underneath. n-count
hang-gliding
Hang-gliding is the activity of flying in a hang-glider. n-uncount
hang-up (hang-ups plural )If you have a hang-up about something, you have a feeling of fear, anxiety, or embarrassment about it.
INFORMAL n-count
(=inhibition)
I don't have any hang-ups about my body.
