dangle

American  

[dang-guhl] / ˈdæŋ gəl /

verb (used without object)

dangled, dangling

1. to hang loosely, especially with a jerking or swaying motion.

   The rope dangled in the breeze.

   Synonyms:

   flap, sway, swing

2. to hang around or follow a person, as if seeking favor or attention.

3. 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.

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verb (used with object)

dangled, dangling

1. to cause to dangle; hold or carry swaying loosely.

2. to offer as an inducement.

noun

1. the act of dangling.

2. something that dangles.

idioms

1. keep someone dangling, to keep someone in a state of uncertainty.

dangle British  

/ ˈdæŋɡəl /

verb

1. to hang or cause to hang freely

   his legs dangled over the wall

2. (tr) to display as an enticement

   the hope of a legacy was dangled before her

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noun

1. the act of dangling or something that dangles

Other Word Forms

• dangler noun
• danglingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of dangle

1580–90; expressive word akin to Norwegian, Swedish dangla, Danish dangle dangle

Example Sentences

LONDON—United Airlines dangled a tantalizing offer a day before my flight to San Francisco.

From The Wall Street Journal

The mom sees me staring and smiles, her quill earrings so long they almost dangle onto the plate.

From Literature

“And Jonah believes everything he says. And he’ll do anything he says, especially when Dad dangles the dirt bike carrot. It buys Jonah’s loyalty every time. It’s like he’s Dad’s puppet.”

From Literature

The University of Illinois dangled sweet pay deals to recruit several professional European players to its men’s basketball team.

From The Wall Street Journal

When it was over, the 50-year-old Woods even dangled the possibility of returning to the Masters next month to play his first competitive event since 2024.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• droop
• flap
• hang
• sling
• sway
• swing