Phrase guide

hang around

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To stay, linger, or loiter.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • If you hang around after the show, you can meet the cast.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To spend time or be friends. (especially to hang around with someone)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • My daughter likes to hang around with older kids after school.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

be about

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The high school students like to loiter in the Central Square
  • Who is this man that is hanging around the department?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: loiter, lounge, footle, lollygag, loaf, lallygag, mess about, tarry, linger, lurk, mill about, mill around

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: be

Narrower terms: prowl, lurch

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

35 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 逗留 (dòuliú) — to stay, linger or loiter
  • Czech: potloukat se — to stay, linger or loiter
  • Dutch: rondhangen — to stay, linger or loiter
  • Finnish: norkoilla — to stay, linger or loiter
  • French: traîner — to stay, linger or loiter
  • Hungarian: cselleng — to stay, linger or loiter
  • Polish: szwendać się — to stay, linger or loiter
  • Polish: włóczyć się — to stay, linger or loiter
  • Polish: wałkonić się — to stay, linger or loiter
  • Polish: pałętać się — to stay, linger or loiter
  • Polish: wałęsać się — to stay, linger or loiter
  • Russian: шля́ться (šljátʹsja) — to stay, linger or loiter
  • Russian: слоня́ться (slonjátʹsja) — to stay, linger or loiter
  • Russian: окола́чиваться (okoláčivatʹsja) — to stay, linger or loiter
  • Russian: шата́ться (šatátʹsja) — to stay, linger or loiter
  • Russian: тере́ться (terétʹsja) — to stay, linger or loiter
  • Russian: ошива́ться (ošivátʹsja) — to stay, linger or loiter
  • Russian: тусова́ться (tusovátʹsja) — to stay, linger or loiter
  • Chinese Mandarin: 混 (hùn) — to spend time or be friends
  • Dutch: rondhangen — to spend time or be friends
  • Finnish: hengata — to spend time or be friends
  • Finnish: hengailla — to spend time or be friends
  • French: traîner — to spend time or be friends
  • German: abhängen — to spend time or be friends
  • German: herumhängen — to spend time or be friends
  • German: rumhängen — to spend time or be friends
  • Polish: spędzać czas — to spend time or be friends
  • Polish: zadawać się — to spend time or be friends
  • Romanian: își petrece timpul cu — to spend time or be friends
  • Romanian: sta cu — to spend time or be friends
  • Russian: встреча́ться (vstrečátʹsja) — to spend time or be friends
  • Russian: дружи́ть (družítʹ) — to spend time or be friends
  • Russian: води́ться (vodítʹsja) — to spend time or be friends
  • Serbo-Croatian: družiti se — to spend time or be friends
  • Serbo-Croatian: provoditi vrijeme s — to spend time or be friends