dangle
Americanverb (used without object)
-
dangles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
dangled,
past participle, past
-
dangling
present participle
-
to hang loosely, especially with a jerking or swaying motion.
The rope dangled in the breeze.
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to hang around or follow a person, as if seeking favor or attention.
-
Grammar. to occur as a modifier without a head or as a participle without an implied subject, as leaving the tunnel in The daylight was blinding, leaving the tunnel.
verb (used with object)
-
dangles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
dangled,
past participle, past
-
dangling
present participle
-
to cause to dangle; hold or carry swaying loosely.
-
to offer as an inducement.
noun
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the act of dangling.
-
something that dangles.
idioms
verb
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to hang or cause to hang freely
his legs dangled over the wall
-
(tr) to display as an enticement
the hope of a legacy was dangled before her
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
danglesimple
-
danglessimple
-
have dangledperfect
-
has dangledperfect
-
am danglingprogressive
-
are danglingprogressive
-
is danglingprogressive
-
have been danglingperfect progressive
-
has been danglingperfect progressive
Past
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dangledsimple
-
had dangledperfect
-
was danglingprogressive
-
were danglingprogressive
-
had been danglingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of dangle
1580–90; expressive word akin to Norwegian, Swedish dangla, Danish dangle dangle
Explanation
Dangle means to hang or swing loosely. If you dangle string above a kitten you will both be entertained. The verb dangle probably comes from a late 16th century Danish or Swedish word meaning “loose or pendulous,” though we don’t know for sure. You may have a taste for big, showy earrings that dangle. Or, you might even dangle a possibility — "If you were to dangle the prospect of dessert to a child, then you better follow through!"
Vocabulary lists containing dangle
Keystone Exams: English Composition Glossary
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"Lob's Girl" by Joan Aiken
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The Circuit
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
If they sense you’re a bored retiree, they will dangle the allure of giving your life renewed purpose.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026
The Minions also force Harold Lloyd to dangle off a clock like he does in 1923’s “Safety Last!” and a house to fall around Buster Keaton in a nod to 1928’s “Steamboat Bill, Jr.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
Here’s what can’t be denied: The Sunshine State’s reputation as the nation’s dangle, Heaven’s lobby, and a land of swamp creatures and crocodile wrestlers and Disneyworld and Mar-A-Lago and, somehow, Miami.
From Salon ● Jul. 1, 2026
Talley’s suncatchers dangle in the air and catch the light, an homage to algae’s most impactful contribution: producing over half of the world’s oxygen, which they do using energy from the sun.
From Slate ● Jun. 27, 2026
“It stinks that Heather couldn’t come,” I say as I dangle a fuzzy bunny in front of the baby.
From "Blended" by Sharon M. Draper
Time stands still at the nearby burnt-out house of the Siman Tov family, where a wind chime dangles by the door.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
A swing dangles lazily in the middle of the room.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 11, 2026
“Love Is Blind”’s gamification dangles the promise of a deeper emotional connection, which was especially appealing when lockdowns closed community third spaces and further cemented TV as a dominant cultural hub.
From Salon ● Mar. 8, 2026
It recently revamped its program, introducing a three-tier structure that offers ways to earn points faster, but also dangles exclusive merchandise and curated experiences for its top-tier members.
From Barron's ● Feb. 26, 2026
A pipe in the shape of a tomahawk dangles precariously from his mouth.
From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera
Tom Cruise has dangled from cliffs, skyscrapers and planes, but oil magnate Digger Rockwell is his riskiest role in eons.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026
It’s unlikely she’d talk about the cabinet appointment Ronald Reagan dangled in front of her as she worked tirelessly to get him elected, the cabinet appointment she never got.
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026
The economic progress dims hope for a nuclear deal with the U.S., since Washington has often dangled sanctions relief or economic incentives to get Pyongyang to freeze, halt or relinquish its nuclear program.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026
Sanchez also dangled the prospect of a massive port deal for American investors -- one that would rival a Chinese port concession at Chancay north of Lima that has long irked the White House.
From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026
In the trees, near the lake, a loose thread dangled from the hem of my sundress.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
A shop made famous when a grandmother got caught on its shutter and was left dangling in the air has hit the headlines again after a car crashed through the front of it.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
According to their report, investigators observed “the center conductor dangling free from the bridge section of the tower; it appeared that the remaining two conductors were not bored down to the tower bridge.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026
Their surfaces do not contain dangling bonds, which makes it difficult to grow an extremely thin dielectric film evenly across them.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 9, 2026
Merz's intention to sack Schnieder leaked last week but the minister was left dangling in the post after Merz's initial pick for his replacement pulled out.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
His father’s left boot was dangling by its shoelace from a lower branch.
From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
