(hangs, hanging, hung, hanged)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
Note: 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.
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...
...small hanging lanterns...
They saw a young woman come out of the house to hang clothes on a line.
VERB: V prep/adv, V-ing, V n prep/adv
•
Hang up means the same as
hang.
I found his jacket, which was hanging up in the hallway...
Some prisoners climbed onto the roof and hung up a banner.
PHRASAL VERB: V P, V P n (not pron), also V n P
2.
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: V adv/prep
3.
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...
VERB: V adj
4.
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.
VERB: usu passive, be V-ed with n
5.
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...
It is right that their murderers should hang...
He hanged himself two hours after arriving at a mental hospital.
VERB: be V-ed, V, V pron-refl
• hanging (hangings)
Four steamboat loads of spectators came to view a hanging in New Orleans.
N-VAR
6.
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: V prep/adv
7.
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: V over n
8.
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)
It's a bit tricky at first till you get the hang of it.
PHRASE: V inflects: PHR n
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 and you never know what you might achieve.
PHRASE: V inflects
11.
to
hang by a thread: see
thread