hang
hang — verb
1. to place an object in an elevated position by fixing its upper part to a hook, n
to place an object in an elevated position by fixing its upper part to a hook, nail, or rail, so the lower part can move freely; the object may also remain in that position without being supported from underneath.
Talia hung her coat on the hook by the front door.
transitive: hang + object + on + position
The children hung colourful paper lanterns from the ceiling for the party.
transitive: hang + object + from + position
A large mirror hangs above the fireplace in the living room.
intransitive: subject + hang + position phrase
The teacher asked the class to hang their artwork on the classroom wall.
The wooden sign hung from two metal chains outside the old shop.
- hang a picture
- hang a coat
- hang curtains
- hang from the ceiling
- hang on a hook
Grammar Patterns
hang + object + on/from/over [position]
hang + in/on/from [position]
Usage Note
The past tense is hung for this sense. Use hanged (sense 4) only for execution by rope.
Common Mistakes
2. to put wallpaper onto a wall by covering the back with paste and pressing it int
to put wallpaper onto a wall by covering the back with paste and pressing it into place.
Min spent the weekend hanging wallpaper in the baby's room.
common pattern: hang + wallpaper + in [room]
The decorator hung striped wallpaper in the hallway and floral paper in the kitchen.
It took two people to hang the wallpaper evenly without any air bubbles.
They decided to paint the ceiling first and hang the wallpaper afterwards.
- hang wallpaper
- hang paper
Grammar Patterns
hang + wallpaper/paper
Usage Note
Only used with wallpaper as the object. For hanging pictures or decorations, use sense 1.
3. to leave a recently killed bird or animal hanging in a cool place so that the me
to leave a recently killed bird or animal hanging in a cool place so that the meat becomes softer and develops a stronger flavour; or to be left in this way.
The hunter hung the deer in the shed for a week before cutting the meat.
transitive: hang + animal + for [duration]
Local butchers hang their beef for several days to develop a richer taste.
The pheasants hung in the cold pantry until they were ready to cook.
intransitive: animal + hangs + in [place]
The old farmer taught his son how to hang a wild boar properly for the best flavour.
- hang meat
- hang game
- hang for a week
Grammar Patterns
hang + [animal/meat]
meat + hangs + for [period]
Usage Note
The past tense is hung for both transitive and intransitive uses of this sense. The meat is not frozen but kept at a cool temperature.
4. to end a life by placing a rope around the neck and letting the body fall from a
to end a life by placing a rope around the neck and letting the body fall from a height, so the neck breaks from the sudden pull — this is usually ordered as a formal punishment by a court; the word also describes the victim's death.
The prisoner was hanged at dawn for the murder of a prison guard.
passive: be hanged + at [time] + for [crime]
In the nineteenth century, people were sometimes hanged for stealing a horse.
passive: historical context
The convicted spy declared that he would never hang, even if the court ordered it.
intransitive use: person + will hang
Tariq read a novel about a woman sentenced to hang for a crime she did not commit.
- hanged for murder
- sentenced to hang
- be hanged at dawn
- execute
broader meaning; can refer to any method of killing as punishment
Grammar Patterns
hang + [person]
be + hanged + for [crime]
be + hanged + at [time/place]
Usage Note
The past tense is hanged, not hung, for this sense. This is the only sense of hang that uses the past form hanged. The passive is very common (be hanged).
Common Mistakes
5. to remain floating in the air without dropping, used especially of smoke, mist,
to remain floating in the air without dropping, used especially of smoke, mist, smells, or aircraft that do not move from one spot.
Thick smoke from the campfire hung in the air for hours after the fire went out.
smoke + hangs + in the air
A white mist hangs over the valley every morning in late autumn.
mist + hangs + over [location]
The smell of freshly baked bread hung in the kitchen long after the baking was done.
A police helicopter hung in the sky above the stadium during the concert.
- hang in the air
- hang over the valley
- smoke hangs
- mist hangs
Grammar Patterns
hang + in/over/above [location]
smoke/smell/mist + hangs + in/over [place]
Usage Note
Often used figuratively for smells, sounds, or feelings that seem to remain in a place. For example, 'a sense of sadness hung in the room.'
6. to bend or droop downward, or to let something bend down; used for a person's he
to bend or droop downward, or to let something bend down; used for a person's head (usually showing shame or tiredness), hair, clothing, or tree branches.
The old willow tree's branches hung low over the surface of the pond.
branches + hang + low + over [position]
Rafael hung his head in shame after breaking his mother's favourite vase.
transitive: hang + one's head (shame/sadness)
Her long black hair hung down her back in a thick single braid.
The heavy snow made the power lines hang dangerously low across the street.
- hang low
- hang one's head
- hang down
Grammar Patterns
hang + [body part]
hair/clothes/branches + hang + [position]
Usage Note
When used with 'head' (hang one's head), this sense almost always carries an emotional meaning of shame, embarrassment, or sadness. For clothing (sense 11 in verb_b2), use 'hang' to describe how fabric fits on the body.
7. to steer a vehicle to the left or right, used especially when giving directions
to steer a vehicle to the left or right, used especially when giving directions while driving on a road
Constanza hung a left at the traffic lights and drove toward the station.
hang + a + direction (left/right)
The taxi driver told me to hang a right after the old post office.
If you hang a sharp left just past the bridge, you will see the market.
Mert hung a right onto a narrow street to avoid the traffic jam.
Not knowing where to hang a left, Beatrix stopped to ask for directions.
- hang a left
- hang a right
- hang a sharp left
- turn
more general and neutral; used in all contexts including formal
Grammar Patterns
hang + a + direction (left/right)
Usage Note
Only used with 'a left' or 'a right' (or 'a sharp left/right'). Never used without a following direction word.
Common Mistakes
8. to spend time in a relaxed, casual way with friends or in a particular place, of
to spend time in a relaxed, casual way with friends or in a particular place, often without a specific plan
Aarav and his friends often hang out at the park near the school.
hang out + at [place]
Do you want to hang out with us after class tomorrow?
hang out + with [someone]
The teenagers hang out at the shopping centre on Saturday afternoons.
Yan spent the whole afternoon hanging out by the pool with his cousins.
Where do the local students usually hang out after school?
- hang out with friends
- hang out at a place
- socialize
more formal; used in professional or academic contexts
- spend time
neutral; less specific about the relaxed quality of the activity
Grammar Patterns
hang out + with [someone]
hang out + at/in [place]
Usage Note
Almost always used with 'with' (someone) or 'at/in' (a place). Use 'spend time with' in formal writing instead of this phrasal verb.
Common Mistakes
9. when a computer program, device, or website suddenly stops responding to command
when a computer program, device, or website suddenly stops responding to commands, usually with a motionless screen
My laptop hung while I was saving the report, and I lost all my work.
hang while [doing something]
The game hung halfway through the loading screen, so I restarted it.
If the program hangs, try closing it and opening it again.
Talia's computer hung right before the presentation, which was very stressful.
The website hung because too many people were trying to buy tickets at once.
subject is a website or program
- computer hangs
- program hangs
- system hangs
Grammar Patterns
[computer/program] + hangs
hang + while + verb-ing
Usage Note
Only the form 'hung' is used for computers (never 'hanged'). 'Hanged' is reserved for execution by rope. Common in both British and American English for technology contexts.
Common Mistakes
10. in baseball, when a pitcher sends a ball toward the batter that fails to spin as
in baseball, when a pitcher sends a ball toward the batter that fails to spin as intended, so the batter can hit it easily
The pitcher hung a curveball, and the batter hit it over the fence.
hang + [type of pitch]
When a pitch hangs in the strike zone, the batter can hit it easily.
The coach told Adisa not to hang his slider in a tight game.
That breaking ball hung badly, and the crowd knew it would be a home run.
- hang a curveball
- hang a slider
- pitch hangs
Grammar Patterns
hang + [type of pitch]
[pitch] + hangs
Usage Note
Used mainly by baseball commentators, coaches, and players. The subject can be the pitcher (transitive — 'he hung a curveball') or the pitch itself (intransitive — 'the pitch hung').
11. how a piece of clothing or fabric rests or falls on a person's body or over a su
how a piece of clothing or fabric rests or falls on a person's body or over a surface
The silk dress hung loosely on her shoulders and moved with every step.
hang + adverb (loosely, perfectly, heavily)
This jacket hangs beautifully because the tailor adjusted it carefully.
Mathieu's new coat hung heavily on his small frame on the cold morning.
The curtains hung in soft folds over the window, letting in some light.
Maja tried on several skirts to see how they hung on her body.
- hang loosely
- hang perfectly
- hang heavily
- hang in folds
Grammar Patterns
hang + adverb (loosely, perfectly, heavily)
hang + in + [description]
Usage Note
Always takes an adverb or a phrase describing how the item falls. Simply saying 'the dress hangs' is not enough — you must describe the way it hangs.
Common Mistakes
hang about
phrasal verbTo spend time somewhere without a clear purpose.
Teenagers often hang about the shopping centre.
Don't hang about; we need to leave now.
hang around
phrasal verbTo stay in a place for no particular reason.
He hung around the park after school.
Why are you hanging around here? Go home.
hang around with
phrasal verbTo spend time with someone as a friend.
She hangs around with a group of artists.
I used to hang around with Tom in college.
hang back
phrasal verbTo stay behind or be unwilling to act.
While others rushed forward, he hung back.
She hung back from joining the conversation.
hang on
phrasal verbTo wait for a short time.
Hang on a moment, I'll be right there.
Can you hang on while I check the information?
hang on to
phrasal verbTo keep something carefully.
Hang on to that ticket; you might need it.
She hung on to her grandmother's ring for years.
hang out
phrasal verbTo spend time relaxing in a place.
We like to hang out at the coffee shop.
Where do you usually hang out on weekends?
hang over
phrasal verbTo be likely to happen soon and cause worry.
The threat of layoffs hung over the office.
A sense of dread hung over the town.
hang together
phrasal verbTo stay united or be consistent.
The group hung together through the crisis.
His story doesn't hang together; there are contradictions.
hang up
phrasal verbTo end a phone call.
She hung up without saying goodbye.
Don't hang up yet; I have one more question.
hang up on
phrasal verbTo end a phone call with someone rudely.
He got angry and hung up on the customer.
She hung up on me in the middle of our conversation.
hang something
idiomUsed to say you will not worry about something.
Let's buy the expensive cake and hang the cost.
We'll take a taxi and hang the extra fare.
To be in a very dangerous situation.
After the accident, his life hung by a thread.
The company's future hung by a hair after the scandal.
hang/hold fire
idiomTo delay taking action.
The committee decided to hang fire on the new policy.
We should hold fire until we have more information.
hang your hat
idiomTo live in a particular place.
After years of travel, he finally found a place to hang his hat.
This small town is where I hang my hat now.
To depend or rely on something.
You can't hang your hat on that old data.
She hangs her hat on her experience to get the job.
hang/lie heavy
idiomTo be very noticeable in an unpleasant way.
The smoke hung heavy over the burning building.
Guilt lay heavy on his conscience for years.
hang (on) in there
idiomTo continue trying to succeed despite difficulties.
Hang in there, the exam will be over soon.
She hung on in there and finally finished the marathon.
hang a left/right
idiomTo make a left or right turn.
At the next traffic light, hang a left.
He hung a right onto Main Street.
hang/stay loose
idiomTo remain calm and not worry.
Just hang loose and enjoy the party.
She stayed loose during the interview and did well.
To hold something very tightly because you are afraid.
He held on for grim death to the railing during the storm.
She hung on like grim death to her job during the recession.
To listen very carefully to someone you admire.
The students hung on the professor's every word.
Fans hung on his words as he described his journey.
To put someone in a difficult situation, often by abandoning them.
The manager hung his assistant out to dry for the mistake.
She felt hung out to dry when her friends left her alone.
hang tough
idiomTo be determined and not change your attitude or ideas.
The union hung tough during the negotiations.
He hung tough and refused to accept the unfair deal.
If something is in the balance, its future is uncertain.
The team's championship hopes hung in the balance.
Her life hung in the balance after the surgery.
let it all hang out
idiomTo express your feelings freely without hiding them.
At the party, she let it all hang out and danced wildly.
He let it all hang out during the therapy session.
If you will be punished anyway, you might as well do something big.
I'm already in trouble, so I might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb.
He thought, 'I may as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb,' and took the money.
Something that gives you an excuse or opportunity to discuss something.
The news story was a peg to hang his political views on.
She used the question as a peg to hang her ideas on.
hang — noun
1. the ability to understand or do something after you have practised it, especiall
the ability to understand or do something after you have practised it, especially when the skill is not immediately easy or obvious to learn
Jisoo struggled at first but soon got the hang of the new software.
get the hang of + noun phrase (the skill)
It took Christopher a whole month to get the hang of driving a manual car.
Once you get the hang of the rhythm, the dance moves become much easier.
get the hang of + noun phrase (abstract skill)
Bao said the recipe looked hard but got the hang of it after two tries.
got the hang of it — pronoun object
Lakshmi finally got the hang of the lock and opened the old wooden chest.
- get the hang of
- finally got the hang
- never got the hang
Grammar Patterns
get the hang of + noun phrase / gerund
Usage Note
This noun only appears in the fixed expression 'get the hang of (something)'. The subject is always a person learning a skill, and the object is the activity or tool being learned.
Common Mistakes
2. the visual effect of fabric or clothing as it hangs from a support, including ho
the visual effect of fabric or clothing as it hangs from a support, including how it folds, falls, or lies against a surface
Gabriel admired the smooth hang of the silk curtains in the living room.
the hang of + [fabric type] — describing appearance
The tailor adjusted the hang of the jacket so it rested well on the shoulders.
adjusted the hang of — tailoring context
Léa chose a lighter cotton fabric to improve the hang of her summer dress.
Nala noticed the uneven hang of the hem and asked the seamstress to re-stitch it.
uneven hang — describing a flaw
The hang of a shirt depends on the fabric and how it is cut.
- the hang of
- smooth hang
- uneven hang
- adjust the hang
Usage Note
This sense is mostly used in fashion, sewing, and interior design contexts. Unlike 'get the hang of' (Sense 1), this sense stands alone as a countable noun.
Word family
- hangernounB1
- hangingsnounC1
- overhangverbC1
- overhangnounC1
- rehangverbC2
- hang-upnounB2
- hangovernounB1
- hangmannounB2
- hangnailnounC1
- hanger-onnounC2
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All four words describe something held in place from above, but they differ in formality and the kind of movement allowed. Suspend is the most formal — it is the word engineers use (a bridge suspended from cables) and appears in technical writing. Dangle adds the idea of loose, free swinging from a single point, often with an implication of instability (keys dangling from a belt) or temptation (dangling a reward). Drape is specific to fabric or soft materials that fall in folds (curtains draped over a window); it suggests an aesthetic or decorative arrangement rather than simple suspension. Sling describes a casual way of carrying something over the body (a bag slung over the shoulder) and always implies a diagonal or looping support. For everyday situations — hanging a coat, a picture, or a decoration — hang is the natural choice, while the others add a layer of meaning about how or why the object is held up.
Common collocations
Etymology
Hang comes from Old English, where two different verbs existed side by side: hōn (meaning 'to put something in a raised position') and hangian (meaning 'to stay in a raised position'). Both trace back to the same Proto-Germanic root *hanhaną, which also gave Dutch hangen and German hängen. The past-tense split between hanged and hung is an old feature of English — by the 1600s, hanged became standard for executions (perhaps because judges and court clerks wanted a special form for death sentences), while hung took over everywhere else.