hang around

verb

hung around; hanging around; hangs around
1
intransitive, informal
a
: to pass time idly or in relaxing or socializing
spent the day just hanging around with her friends
b
: to stay in or at a place for a period of time
had to hang around for over an hour, waiting for the bus
She didn't feel like hanging around at the club afterward …David Calder
2
transitive informal : to pass time or stay in or at (a place) or in the company of (someone)
hung around the house all day
My mother doesn't want me hanging around the park alone.Judy Blume
When he was 10 years old, Lester taught him-self to windsurf by hanging around the Europeans and Canadian tourists who rented boards on the beach at Varadero.Sam Moses

Examples of hang around in a Sentence

if you hang around until my husband gets home, you can meet him
Recent Examples on the Web The temperature will cool slightly Tuesday to the mid-70s, but the humidity will hang around. Steven Martinez, Journal Sentinel, 8 July 2024 Couple of gold chains hanging around his neck, and a blonde on his arm. Nicole Fell, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 June 2024 In Coral Gables, Moe and Newport said, audience members pay to park, go to nearby restaurants and hang around stores before and after shows. Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 25 June 2024 This namesake exists because the chemicals tend to show up as heavy-duty, long-lasting water, oil, and stain-fighting ingredients in some of the things that are probably hanging around your house right now, like non-stick cookware, food packaging, stain-resistant clothing, and even tap water. Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 12 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for hang around 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hang around.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of hang around was in 1823

Dictionary Entries Near hang around

Cite this Entry

“Hang around.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hang%20around. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

hang around

verb
informal
: to pass time or stay idly in or at
hung around the house all day
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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