hanging

American  

[hang-ing] / ˈhæŋ ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act, an instance, or the form of capital punishment carried out by suspending one by the neck from a gallows, gibbet, or the like, until dead.

2. Often hangings. something that hangs or is hung on the walls of a room, as a drapery or tapestry.

3. a suspending or temporary attaching, as of a painting.

   a careless hanging of pictures.

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adjective

1. punishable by, deserving, or causing death by hanging.

   a hanging crime; a hanging offense.

2. inclined to inflict death by hanging.

   a hanging jury.

3. suspended; pendent; overhanging.

   a hanging cliff.

4. situated on a steep slope or at a height.

   a hanging garden.

5. directed downward.

   a hanging look.

6. made, holding, or suitable for a hanging object.

hanging British  

/ ˈhæŋɪŋ /

noun

1. 1. the putting of a person to death by suspending the body by the neck from a noose

   2. ( as modifier )

      a hanging offence

2. (often plural) a decorative textile such as a tapestry or drapery hung on a wall or over a window

3. the act of a person or thing that hangs

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adjective

1. not supported from below; suspended

2. undecided; still under discussion

3. inclining or projecting downwards; overhanging

4. situated on a steep slope or in a high place

5. (prenominal) given to issuing harsh sentences, esp death sentences

   a hanging judge

6. informal unpleasant

7. chess See hanging pawn

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• hangingly
  adverb
• unhanging
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of hanging

1250–1300; Middle English (noun, adj.), Old English hangande (adj.) See hang, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

The New York Knicks return home Monday night for Game 3 of the NBA Finals with a 2-0 series lead, a strong playoff showing and a city hanging on every shot.

From Salon • Jun. 7, 2026

“I wanted to go through the difficulty of the preventive surgery rather than live a life of uncertainty with that hanging over my head,” said Benson, now 23.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026

But to many on Wall Street, the company’s AI strategy has been a big question mark hanging over the stock.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 6, 2026

The review has left uncertainty hanging over a trading partnership that has been in place in some form since 1994.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

Jonah plays it up, loving the fact that I’m hanging on his every word.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam