- 1[transitive, intransitive] to attach something, or to be attached, at the top so that the lower part is free or loose hang something + adv./prep. Hang your coat on the hook. hang something up Should I hang your coat up? hang something (out) Have you hung the laundry out? hang adv./prep. There were several expensive suits hanging in his closet.
Want to learn more?
Find out which words work together and produce more natural sounding English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app.
fall loosely - 2[intransitive] hang adv./prep. when something hangs in a particular way, it falls in that way Her hair hung down to her waist. He had lost weight and the suit hung loosely on him.
- 3[intransitive, transitive] to bend or let something bend downward hang adv./prep. The dog's tongue was hanging out. Children hung (= were leaning) over the gate. A cigarette hung from her lips. hang something She hung her head in shame. kill someone
- 4(hanged, hanged) [transitive, intransitive] hang (somebody/yourself) to kill someone, usually as a punishment, by tying a rope around their neck and allowing them to drop; to be killed in this way He was the last man to be hanged for murder in this country. She had committed suicide by hanging herself from a beam. At that time you could hang for stealing. pictures
- 5[transitive, intransitive] hang (something) to attach something, especially a picture, to a hook on a wall; to be attached in this way We hung her portrait above the fireplace. Several of his paintings hang in the Guggenheim Museum.
- 6[transitive, usually passive] hang something with something to decorate a place by placing paintings, etc. on a wall The rooms were hung with tapestries. wallpaper
- 7[transitive] hang something to stick wallpaper to a wall
- 8[transitive] hang something to attach a door or gate to a post so that it moves freely stay in the air
- 9[intransitive] + adv./prep. to stay in the air Smoke hung in the air above the city. spend tiime
- 10[intransitive] (informal) to spend a lot of time in a particular place, not doing very much We usually hang at Sue's house. Idioms
- 1hang/lie heavy (on/in something) (of a feeling or something in the air) to be very noticeable in a particular place in a way that is unpleasant Smoke lay heavy on the far side of the water. Despair hangs heavy in the stifling air.
- 2hang/lie heavy on somebody/something to cause someone or something to feel uncomfortable or anxious The crime lay heavy on her conscience.
verb jump to other results
NAmE//hæŋ//
In sense 4, hanged is used for the past tense and past participle.Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they hang he / she / it hangs
past simple hanged
-ing form hanging
(of a person's life) to be in great danger
to delay or be delayed in taking action The project had hung fire for several years for lack of funds.
to remain determined to succeed even when a situation is difficult
to take a left/right turn
to remain calm; to not worry It's OK—hang loose and stay cool.
to listen with great attention to someone you admire
to start a business as a doctor, lawyer, or other professional
to be determined and refuse to change your attitude or ideas
if the future of something or someone, or the result of something, is/hangs in the balance, it is uncertain The long-term future of the space program hangs in the balance. Tom's life hung in the balance for two weeks as he lay in a coma.
to express your feelings freely
something that gives you an excuse or opportunity to discuss or explain something The character provides a peg to hang the writer's political ideas on. Phrasal Verbshang aroundhang around withhang backhang onhang ontohang outhang out withhang overhang togetherhang uphang up onhang with
Check pronunciation: hang