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to hang

to hang

15 7.5
To listen very closely to every word someone says
  • verb
  • /hæŋ/
  • Informal
: estar pendiente de
  • I was hanging on every word he said during his speech.

Like I'm, I'm hanging on every word.

Examples

  • I don't mean to be creepy, but I I just believe in everything you're saying and I'm hanging on your every word.

  • You don't exactly hang on Nyah's every word and gesture, do you?

  • Well, in my defense, hang on, let me, let me.

  • And I was like, I was like, hang on, hang on what?

  • Oh, hang on, that actually looks kind of good.

  • So the scores were, hang on, hang on.

  • Like I'm, I'm hanging on every word.

  • The geologist did his best to listen and hang on at the same time.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • She's surrounded by a group of men hanging on her every word.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Still, prosecutors in the courtroom must have hung on to every word of Moussaoui's discourse.

    Academic text (2002)

Synonyms

to hear
vsto hang
∞ 1.0

Listen to someone carefully to consider what they say

asks for especially close, intense listening to every word
to listen
vsto hang
∞ 1.0

Pay attention to sounds or speech to hear and understand them

requires closer, more intense attention to each spoken word
to pay attention
vsto hang
985 1.6

To focus on someone or something and notice carefully

implies more intense, almost every-word listening rather than general focus
to hear out
vsto hang
  • Informal
131 3.2

Listen to someone until they finish speaking

focuses on uninterrupted attention to the end rather than intense word focus
to hear me out
vsto hang
  • Informal
79 4.4

Listen to someone until they finish speaking

asks for listening to the end before judging rather than word focus
to hold
vsto hang
26 2.2

To keep someone's attention

refers to receiving intense listening rather than causing attention in others
to attend
vsto hang
14 3.2

To listen or watch carefully

emphasizes closer, word-by-word hearing rather than general attention
11 3.9

To listen very carefully to every word someone says

has the same meaning but in a shorter expression
to pay heed
vsto hang
  • Formal
8 4.5

To listen carefully to advice or warnings

is about very close, word-by-word listening rather than heeding advice specifically
to give ear
vsto hang
  • Archaic
4 6.2

To listen carefully to someone

focuses more on intense attention to each word said

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

106 3.9

Ignore something or someone on purpose

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 Attentive

to hang
  • Informal
15 7.5
to listen
∞ 1.0
to hear
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

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

Etymology

Hang came to be used in sayings like 'hang on every word' from the idea of holding on tightly, so to hang on someone's words means to listen closely and not let the meaning go.