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to hang

to hang

951 1.0
To attach something from above so it stays up
  • verb
  • /hæŋ/
: colgar
  • Beautiful artworks are hung on the walls of the gallery to enhance the visitors' experience.
  • hang on the wall
  • hang a painting
  • hang clothes

Any bells that might be hanging from my nipple ring?

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Examples

  • In the halls of Shiri Castle, there once hung a magnificent bronze bell.

  • The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.

  • So just let me hang my shirts in peace.

  • A new white cloth is then hung in front of the ka-bangka.

    Academic text (2008)
  • There's a little watercolor hanging on the third floor, next to my treadmill.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The farmer harvests entire plants, impales them on tobacco sticks, and hangs them in the barn.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The children watched as the colorful piñata was hung from the tree branch, ready for the party.

  • After finishing the laundry, she hung the clothes on the line to dry in the sun.

Synonyms

to dangle
vsto hang
118 2.3

Hang loosely so it can move or swing

is the broader attach action not only loose swinging or swaying
to hang up
vsto hang
103 2.3

Put something on a wall or hook so it stays off the ground

is the more general action not limited to specific tools or hooks
to drape
vsto hang
50 4.3

To hang or cover something loosely with cloth

is about fixing something from above rather than covering it with cloth
to suspend
vsto hang
47 3.5

To hang something so it can move or swing

focuses on being held up without implying free movement or swinging
to sling
vsto hang
29 3.8

To hang or lift something using a strap

is the general act without implying a strap or lifting tool
to dangle from
vsto hang
27 3.2

To hang loosely so that something swings from a support

is the general placement without implying loose swinging or movement
to string up
vsto hang
8 5.5

To hang things for decoration or display

is used more generally without the special decorative or prominent sense
to drop
vsto hang
4 1.0

To hang down loosely from above

is the act of fixing something up so it stays level or supported
to rehang
vsto hang
1 4.0

Put something back on a wall or hook after taking it down

describes the original or first placement rather than a repeated one
to pend
vsto hang
  • Archaic
8.4

To hang down from above so it moves freely

is the general action without the usual sense of free swinging

Antonyms

150 1.0

A sudden fall from a higher place to a lower place

Idioms

To be in a situation where the result is not decided, for example a job or game

To listen very carefully to every word someone says

to hang a Louie
  • Informal
1 9.9

Turn left while driving or riding a bike

A strong feeling that people in a place notice and feel

1 6.1

In a very dangerous situation where a small problem can cause everything to fail

to care a hang
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To feel no interest or worry at all about something

Make a home and live in a place

to give a hang
  • Archaic
1 9.3

To not care at all about something, used only in negative sentences

Admire someone so much that you think they are perfect

1 9.1

To be in a very risky situation and about to fail

To start your own business as a professional

9.9

To not have enough evidence to prove someone is guilty or to take action

9.9

To throw up when you feel sick

to hang an arse
  • Offensive
9.9

To waste time instead of working

To stop working in your job, especially as an athlete

To stop doing an activity, especially to stop playing music for good

7.7

To live in a place and make it your home

7.7

To stop working after a long time

Phrasal Verbs

to hang out
  • Informal
∞ 2.4

To spend time relaxing or talking with friends

to hang on
  • Informal
445 3.4

To wait a short time or keep going through a hard time

411 2.5

End a phone call by putting the phone down

to hang around
  • Informal
334 2.0

To stay in a place without doing anything important

to hang on
  • Informal
227 3.3

To continue doing something and refuse to give up

to hang in
  • Informal
175 3.6

To keep trying and not give up when things are hard

103 2.3

Put something on a wall or hook so it stays off the ground

to get the hang
  • Informal
56 3.6

Learn to do something well after some practice

56 3.9

To learn how to do something after some practice

38 4.6

To hesitate and stay behind the group

to hang tight
  • Informal
25 7.4

Wait patiently and stay calm during a delay

Keep someone worried about something bad that might happen

to hang on
  • Informal
8 3.0

To stay on the phone and wait

8 8.2

To relax completely and show your true feelings without holding back

To stay united and help each other in hard times

6 4.4

To stay in a place without a clear reason

To fit together so the parts make sense as a whole

To create a dark, worrying feeling that stays with people

Put a large sign or cloth up so people can see it

1 4.4

To be lower than usual or to seem sad

To fly with a lightweight glider hung below your body without an engine

1 5.4

Depend on something that decides the result

to hang fire
  • Informal
1 8.0

To delay making a decision or taking action

to go hang
  • Informal
1 9.1

To spend time relaxing with friends or alone without a plan

Stay perfectly straight when on a wall or ceiling

Compounds

hang-up
  • Informal
19 6.8

An emotional problem that makes someone feel nervous or unable to act normally

7 4.6

A sport of flying a light aircraft without an engine launched from a hill or cliff

6 4.2

A light flying craft without a motor like a large kite that a person hangs under to fly

4 5.9

An unexpected problem that stops progress in a plan or process

1 4.4

A person who flies a small craft like a kite while hanging below it

lever hang
  • Specialized
9.3

A position on gym rings where the body is held straight and horizontal

A position where you hang upside down from a bar or rings with your body straight

A body position with arms stretched backward while the body is held by a bar above

9.9

A position on rings where a gymnast hangs upside down with hips bent and legs straight

straight hang
  • Jargon
8.2

A position on rings or parallel bars with the body straight and arms at the sides

How Secure

to secure
105 3.3
to fasten
73 1.6
to hang
951 1.0
to suspend
47 3.5
to drape
50 4.3
to dangle
118 2.3

Surface Forms

hang infinitive
hanging present participle
hangs third person singular
hung past
hung past participle

Etymology

Hang comes from an old English word meaning 'to be suspended' or 'held from above', like clothes on a hook, and is the same idea behind the word hanger, so to hang something is to attach it from above.