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🖼️ To suspend ✊ To hold tightly 🌫️ To stay in air ⚰️ To execute by rope 💇 To drape loosely 💻 To freeze (computer) 👂 To listen closely ⚖️ No verdict 🧠 The knack 🏋️ A gym exercise 👗 How fabric falls
to hang

to hang

143 7.5
To listen very closely to every word someone says
  • verb
  • /hæŋ/
  • Informal
translation icon : 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?

    Mission: Impossible II (2000)

  • 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.

    Dr. Mayim Bialik

  • 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 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 hear
vsto hang
∞ 1.0

Listen to someone carefully to consider what they say

asks for especially close, intense listening to every word
to pay attention
vsto hang
∞ 1.6

To focus on someone or something and notice carefully

implies more intense, almost every-word listening rather than general focus
to hold
vsto hang
201 2.2

To keep someone's attention

refers to receiving intense listening rather than causing attention in others
to hear out
vsto hang
  • Informal
92 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
86 4.4

Listen to someone until they finish speaking

asks for listening to the end before judging rather than word focus
to attend
vsto hang
22 3.2

To listen or watch carefully

emphasizes closer, word-by-word hearing rather than general attention
to hang on every word
vsto hang
3 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
2 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
1 6.2

To listen carefully to someone

focuses more on intense attention to each word said

Antonyms

to ignore
∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

to disregard
119 3.9

Ignore something or someone on purpose

Idioms

to hang in the balance
37 6.8

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

to hang on every word
3 3.9

To listen very carefully to every word someone says

to hang by a thread
  • Informal
1 6.1

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

to hang a Louie
  • Informal
1 9.9

Turn left while driving or riding a bike

to care a hang
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To feel no interest or worry at all about something

to hang out one's shingle
  • US
1 8.4

To start your own business as a professional

to hang heavy in the air
1 7.7

A strong feeling that people in a place notice and feel

to hang up one's hat
  • Informal
1 7.7

To live in a place and make it your home

to give a hang
  • Archaic
9.3

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

to hang a dog on
  • Archaic
9.9

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

to hang a Ralph
  • Slang
9.9

To throw up when you feel sick

to hang an arse
  • Offensive
9.9

To waste time instead of working

to hang by a hair
  • Informal
9.1

To be in a very risky situation and about to fail

to hang one's hat
7.0

Make a home and live in a place

to hang the moon and stars
  • Informal
9.9

Admire someone so much that you think they are perfect

to hang up one's boots
  • UK
7.5

To stop working in your job, especially as an athlete

to hang up one's fiddle
  • Archaic
9.6

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

to hang up one's hat
  • Informal
7.7

To stop working after a long time

Phrasal Verbs

to hang out
  • Informal
946 2.4

To spend time relaxing or talking with friends

to hang around
  • Informal
407 2.0

To stay in a place without doing anything important

to hang up
405 2.5

End a phone call by putting the phone down

to hang on
  • Informal
362 3.0

To stay on the phone and wait

to hang in
  • Informal
167 3.6

To keep trying and not give up when things are hard

to hang on
  • Informal
111 3.4

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

to hang up
69 2.3

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

to get the hang of
  • Informal
59 3.9

To learn how to do something after some practice

to get the hang
  • Informal
58 3.6

Learn to do something well after some practice

to hang on
  • Informal
46 3.3

To continue doing something and refuse to give up

to hang back
34 4.6

To hesitate and stay behind the group

to hang tight
  • Informal
22 7.4

Wait patiently and stay calm during a delay

to go hang
  • Informal
14 9.1

To spend time relaxing with friends or alone without a plan

to let it all hang out
  • Informal
7 8.2

To relax completely and show your true feelings without holding back

to hang a banner
3 3.0

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

to hang low
3 4.4

To be lower than usual or to seem sad

to hang about
  • UK
3 4.4

To stay in a place without a clear reason

to hang together
2 4.6

To fit together so the parts make sense as a whole

to hang heavy
2 8.6

To create a dark, worrying feeling that stays with people

to hang together
2 4.1

To stay united and help each other in hard times

to hang glide
1 6.4

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

to hang fire
  • Informal
1 8.0

To delay making a decision or taking action

to hang over someone's head
7.6

Keep someone worried about something bad that might happen

to hang square
7.4

Stay perfectly straight when on a wall or ceiling

to hang upon
5.4

Depend on something that decides the result

Compounds

hang-up
  • Informal
30 6.8

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

hang-up
16 5.9

An unexpected problem that stops progress in a plan or process

hang gliding
4 4.6

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

hang glider
2 4.2

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

lever hang
  • Specialized
9.3

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

hang glider
4.4

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

inverted hang
7.5

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

reverse hang
7.7

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

piked reverse hang
  • Jargon
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
143 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.