Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense hangs, present participle hanging, past tense, past participle hung, past tense, past participle hangedlanguage note: The form hung is used as the past tense and past participle. The form hanged is used as the past tense and past participle for meaning [sense 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. [VERB preposition/adverb]
A light-bulb hanging from the ceiling filled the room with a cold yellow light. [VERB preposition/adverb]
The curtains will be hanging there for years. [VERB preposition/adverb]
I was left hanging by my finger-tips over a drop of hundreds of feet. [VERB preposition/adverb]
...small hanging lanterns. [VERB-ing]
They saw a young woman come out of the house to hang clothes on a line. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
[Also V n, V]
Synonyms: dangle, swing, suspend, be pendent More Synonyms of hang
Hang up means the same as hang.
I found his jacket, which was hanging up in the hallway. [VERBPARTICLE]
Some prisoners climbed onto the roof and hung up a banner. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
[Also VERB noun PARTICLE]
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. [VERB adverb/preposition]
Look for a suit made from good, sturdy cloth to ensure it hangs well. [VERB adverb/preposition]
She was standing by the door, her blue robe hanging from her shoulders. [VERB adverb/preposition]
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 sucha way that it moves freely.
...her long golden hair which hung loose about her shoulders. [VERB adjective]
The window sashes were missing, the doors hung open, or were gone altogether. [VERB adjective]
She froze, her mouth hanging open. [VERB adjective]
4. verb [usually passive]
If something such as a wall is hung with pictures or other objects, they are attached to it.
The walls were hung with huge modern paintings. [beVERB-ed + with]
...a line of wall hooks hung with old anoraks and mud-stained overalls. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: decorate, cover, fix, attach More Synonyms of hang
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. [beVERB-ed]
It is right that their murderers should hang. [VERB]
He hanged himself two hours after arriving at a mental hospital. [VERB pronoun-reflexive]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: execute, lynch, string up [informal], gibbet More Synonyms of hang
hangingWord forms: plural hangingsvariable noun
Everyone would come to town to see a hanging.
Synonyms: projecting, prominent, beetle, beetling More Synonyms of hang
Synonyms: undecided, unsettled, unresolved, up in the air [informal] More Synonyms of hang
Synonyms: suspended, swinging, dangling, loose More Synonyms of hang
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. [VERB preposition/adverb]
A haze of expensive perfume hangs around her. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: hover, float, drift, linger More Synonyms of hang
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. [VERB + over]
A question mark hangs over many of their futures. [Vover n]
8. verb [only imper]
Hang is used in expressions such as hang it and hang the money to indicate that you are not concerned about something or the consequences of doing something.
[informal]
Once the Americans decide to do a thing, they do it well, and hang the cost. [VERB noun]
[Also Vit]
9. See also hanging, hung
10.
See get the hang of sth
11.
See hang in there/hang on in there
12.
See let it all hang out
13. to hang by a thread
14. to hang on someone's every word
Phrasal verbs:
See hang around
See hang back
See hang on
See hang out
See hang round
See hang together
See hang up
More Synonyms of hang
hang in British English
(hæŋ)
verbWord forms: hangs, hanging or hung (hʌŋ)
1.
to fasten or be fastened from above, esp by a cord, chain, etc; suspend
the picture hung on the wall
to hang laundry
2.
to place or be placed in position as by a hinge so as to allow free movement around or at the place of suspension
to hang a door
3. (intransitive; sometimes foll byover)
to be suspended or poised; hover
a pall of smoke hung over the city
4. (intransitive; sometimes foll byover)
to be imminent; threaten
5. (intransitive)
to be or remain doubtful or unresolved (esp in the phrase hang in the balance)
6. (past tense and past participle hanged)
to suspend or be suspended by the neck until dead
7. (transitive)
to fasten, fix, or attach in position or at an appropriate angle
to hang a scythe to its handle
8. (transitive)
to decorate, furnish, or cover with something suspended or fastened
to hang a wall with tapestry
9. (transitive)
to fasten to or suspend from a wall
to hang wallpaper
10.
to exhibit (a picture or pictures) by (a particular painter, printmaker, etc) or (of a picture or a painter, etc) to be exhibited in an art gallery, etc
11.
to fall or droop or allow to fall or droop
to hang one's head in shame
12.
(of cloth, clothing, etc) to drape, fall, or flow, esp in a specified manner
her skirt hangs well
13. (transitive)
to suspend (game such as pheasant) so that it becomes slightly decomposed and therefore more tender and tasty
14.
(of a jury) to prevent or be prevented from reaching a verdict
15. (past tense and past participle hanged) slang
to damn or be damned: used in mild curses or interjections
I'll be hanged before I'll go out in that storm
16. (intransitive)
to pass slowly (esp in the phrase time hangs heavily)
17. hang fire
18. hang tough
noun
19.
the way in which something hangs
20. (usually used with a negative) slang
a damn
I don't care a hang for what you say
21. get the hang of
Word origin
Old English hangian; related to Old Norse hanga, Old High German hangēn
hang in American English
(hæŋ)
verb transitiveWord forms: hung, ˈhanging, hanged
1.
to attach to something above with no support from below; suspend
2.
to attach so as to permit free motion at the point of attachment
to hang a door on its hinges
3.
to put to death by tying a rope about the neck and suddenly suspending the body so as to snap the neck or cause strangulation
4.
to fasten (pictures, etc.) to a wall by hooks, wires, etc.
5.
to ornament or cover with things suspended
to hang a room with pictures and drapes
6.
to paste (wallpaper) to walls
7.
to exhibit (pictures) in a museum or gallery
8.
to let (one's head) droop downward
9.
to fasten (an ax head, scythe blade, etc.) with correct balance
10.
to pin and sew the hem of (a dress) evenly at a desired distance from the floor
11. US
to deadlock (a jury) by one's vote
12.
to fix (something) on a person or thing
13. US, Baseball
to pitch (a breaking ball) that fails to curve sharply and is therefore easy to hit
verb intransitive
14.
to be attached to something above with no support from below
15.
to hover or float in the air, as though suspended
16.
to swing, as on a hinge
17.
to fall, flow, or drape, as cloth, a coat, etc.
18.
to die by hanging
19.
a.
to incline; lean
b.
to droop; bend
20.
to be doubtful or undecided; hesitate
21.
to have one's pictures exhibited in a museum or gallery
22. Slang
a.
to loiter; idle
b.
to engage in social activity
; often with with [hanging with their friends at the mall]
noun
23.
the way that a thing hangs
24.
a pause in, or suspension of, motion
Idioms:
get (or have) the hang of
hang a left
hang around
hang around with
hang back
hang fire
hang five (or ten)
hang in (there)
hang it!
hang it (or them or 'em) up
hang loose
hang on
hang one on
hang out
hang over
hang to
hang together
hang tough
hang up
not care a hang about
Word origin
ME hangen, with form < OE vi. hangian & ON vi. hanga; senses < these, also < OE vt. hon & ON caus. v. hengja; akin to Ger vi. hangen, vt. hängen, to execute (caus.): all ult. < IE base *enk, to sway, hang (akin to *keg- > hook)
More idioms containing
hang
let it all hang out
hang up your boots
hang tough
get the hang of something
hang fire
a peg on which to hang something
give someone enough rope to hang themselves
hang loose
hang by a thread
Examples of 'hang' in a sentence
hang
And my right arm was hanging down by my side.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There is no point hanging around thinking what is going to happen.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The anonymous person who received it has decided to have it framed to hang on a wall.
The Sun (2016)
The banners hang on both sides of the aisle.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
One of his pictures hangs in the Smithsonian.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He woke up and went downstairs at about 6am and found her hanged in the hallway.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He thought they were shorts so he just walked down the high street with a pair of boxer shorts with the flap hanging wide open.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She certainly didn't hang about.
The Sun (2016)
With space to hang your own pictures.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
You only get the chance to do this once and there is no point hanging about.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They only hang around if there is something to eat.
The Sun (2012)
Your mouth may hang open slightly as you relax which is fine.
MacEoin, Beth Healthy By Nature (1994)
The print is hanging in my hallway.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Will be well hung in any home.
The Sun (2010)
Perhaps the huge bomb hanging from the ceiling in the lobby will do it instead?
The Sun (2011)
That sinister threat is left hanging in the air.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You could say they hang around her unadorned throat like pearls.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
On the door my blue dressing gown hung from its hook.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
That hangs around for quite a long period.
The Sun (2013)
We were hanging on a bit at the end but we just shaded it.
The Sun (2012)
Like that area in the wardrobe below where your clothes hang.
The Sun (2011)
When he hangs a picture it is crooked.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Yet the prospect that he might hang about induced instant claustrophobia.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She cruised through that race and still won easily despite hanging badly right when hitting the front.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The ones left outside hang around in the hope that they may be opened again.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The threat of minimum pricing and tighter curbs on opening hours already hangs over the drinks industry.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They hung the canvas walls with curtains and an oil painting of a fruit bowl.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Not quite hung up her high heels yet, then.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You can't hang a banner on that.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
hang
British English: hang /hæŋ/ VERB
attach If you hang something somewhere, you fix the top of it to something so that it does not touch the ground.
She hung her coat on a peg.
American English: hang
Arabic: يُعَلِّقُ
Brazilian Portuguese: pendurar
Chinese: 悬挂
Croatian: objesiti
Czech: pověsit
Danish: hænge
Dutch: ophangen ergens aan
European Spanish: colgar ahorcar
Finnish: ripustaa
French: suspendre
German: hängen
Greek: κρεμώ
Italian: appendere
Japanese: 掛ける
Korean: ...을 (...에) 걸다
Norwegian: henge
Polish: powiesić
European Portuguese: pendurar
Romanian: a agăța
Russian: вешать
Latin American Spanish: colgar
Swedish: hänga
Thai: แขวน
Turkish: asmak
Ukrainian: повісити
Vietnamese: treo
British English: hang /hæŋ/ VERB
be attached If something hangs somewhere, it is attached at the top so it does not touch the ground.
Notices hang at every entrance.
American English: hang
Arabic: يَتَعَلَّقُ
Brazilian Portuguese: pendurado
Chinese: 悬挂
Croatian: visjeti
Czech: viset
Danish: hænge
Dutch: hangen
European Spanish: estar colgado
Finnish: roikkua
French: pendre
German: hängen
Greek: κρεμιέμαι
Italian: pendere
Japanese: 掛かる
Korean: 걸려 있다
Norwegian: henge
Polish: wisieć
European Portuguese: estar pendurado
Romanian: a atârna
Russian: висеть
Latin American Spanish: estar colgado
Swedish: hänga
Thai: ฆ่าด้วยการแขวนคอ
Turkish: asılmak
Ukrainian: висіти
Vietnamese: treo
All related terms of 'hang'
hang in
to persist
hang on
If you ask someone to hang on , you ask them to wait or stop what they are doing or saying for a moment .
hang to
to hold or clutch tenaciously
hang up
If you hang up or you hang up the phone , you end a phone call . If you hang up on someone you are speaking to on the phone, you end the phone call suddenly and unexpectedly.
hang back
If you hang back , you move or stay slightly behind a person or group, usually because you are nervous about something.
hang fire
If you hang fire , you delay making a decision about something.
hang it!
an exclamation of anger or exasperation
hang out
If you hang out clothes that you have washed , you hang them on a clothes line to dry .
hang over
to project over; overhang
hang tag
A hang tag is a small cardboard or plastic label that hangs from an item of clothing and gives information such as size , color , fabric, and price.
hang time
the amount of time that a person or object is able to remain in the air
hang with
to frequent the company of (someone)
tab-hang
to eavesdrop
hang about
to waste time; loiter
hang around
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.
hang behind
to remain in a place after others have left ; linger
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.
hang heavy
to pass tediously; drag
hang loose
to relax or not to be too serious about something because it is not important
hang round
hang tough
If someone who is trying to achieve something hangs tough , they remain determined and do not give up, even when there are difficulties or problems.
hang-gliding
Hang-gliding is the activity of flying in a hang-glider .
hang together
If two people or groups hang together , they stay with each other and support each other even though they may disagree on some things.
hang a flag
A flag is a piece of cloth which can be attached to a pole and which is used as a sign , signal , or symbol of something, especially of a particular country.
hang a left
to turn to the left (or right), as in driving a car
hang one on
to hit with a blow
hangdog
If you say that someone has a hangdog expression on their face, you mean that they look sad , and often guilty or ashamed .
get the hang of
to understand the technique of doing something
hang around with
to associate or socialize with
hang by a thread
to be very likely to fail soon
hang in (there)
to hold steadfast ; persevere
hang one's head
to lower one's head or conceal one's face in or as in shame
Hang Seng Index
an index of share prices based on an average of 33 stocks quoted on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
hang five (or ten)
to ride a surfboard with the toes of one (or both) feet draped over the front edge of the board
hang up your boots
to stop playing a sport, especially football , and retire
get the hang of sth
If you get the hang of something such as a skill or activity , you begin to understand or realize how to do it.
hang on the lips of
to listen to with close attention
hang up one's spikes
to retire , as from a professional sport
let it all hang out
If you let it all hang out , you relax completely and enjoy yourself without worrying about hiding your emotions or behaving politely.
to hang by a thread
If you say that something is hanging by a thread , you mean that it is in a very uncertain state and is unlikely to survive or succeed .
hang on someone's words
to listen to someone eagerly
hang out your/a shingle
If you hang out your shingle or hang out a shingle , you start your own business .
not care a hang about
to not care the least bit about
hang in there/hang on in there
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 .
burn (or hang) in effigy
to burn (or hang ) an image of (a person) in public, as a way of protesting , as against that person's policies
get (or have) the hang of
to learn (or have) the knack of
give sb enough rope to hang
If you give someone enough rope to hang themselves , you give them the freedom to do a job in their own way because you hope that their attempts will fail and that they will look foolish .
hang it (or them or 'em) up
to retire or quit
a peg on which to hang something
a way of introducing or drawing attention to your ideas or opinions
to hang on someone's every word
If you hang on someone's every word , you listen very carefully to what they are saying , because you admire or respect them.
Chinese translation of 'hang'
hang
(hæŋ)
Word forms:ptpphung
vt
[clothes, light, picture]挂(掛) (guà)
Word forms:ptpphanged
(= execute)[criminal]吊死 (diàosǐ)
vi
(= be suspended)[clothes, light, picture]悬(懸)挂(掛) (xuánguà)
[breath, smoke, smell]飘(飄)浮 (piāofú)
(= fall)[clothing, fabric, hair]垂 (chuí)
to hang one's head (in shame)(羞愧得)低下头(頭) ((xiūkuì de) dīxià tóu)
the walls are hung with old pictures墙(牆)上挂(掛)着(著)旧(舊)画(畫) (qiángshang guàzhe jiùhuà)
to hang loose[hair]披散 (pīsàn) [arms]轻(輕)松(鬆)下垂 (qīngsōng xiàchuí)
to hang open[door, mouth]开(開)着(著) (kāizhe)
n
to get the hang of sth (inf) 掌握某事的方法 (zhǎngwò mǒushì de fāngfǎ)