hang out
Britishverb
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to suspend, be suspended, or lean, esp from an opening, as for display or airing
to hang out the washing
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informal (intr) to live at or frequent a place
the police know where the thieves hang out
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informal to frequent the company (of someone)
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slang to relax completely in an unassuming way (esp in the phrase let it all hang out )
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informal (intr) to act or speak freely, in an open, cooperative, or indiscreet manner
noun
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Protrude downward, as in The dog's tongue was hanging out , or The branches hung out over the driveway . [c. 1400]
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Display a flag or sign of some kind, as in They hung out the flag on every holiday . [Mid-1500s]
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Reside, live, as in I've found a place downtown, and I'll be hanging out there beginning next week . [c. 1800]
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Spend one's free time in; also, loiter, pass time idly. For example, They hung out around the pool parlor , or They spent the evening just hanging out . [ Slang ; mid-1900s]
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hang out with . Keep company with, appear in public with, as in She's hanging out with her ex-boyfriend again . [ Slang ; second half of 1900s] Also see the subsequent idioms beginning with hang out ; let it all hang out .
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.
It’s also where most of the beginning skiers hang out, just waiting to knock us older skiers off our feet.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026
“Carrie and I don’t need any excuse to hang out and talk.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
“We realized our members wanted a casual waterfront community where a 21-year-old and an 80-year-old could hang out around a pool bar together,” she added.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
Not every 9-to-5 working couple wants to hear about or even hang out with a couple who appear to have not a care in the world.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026
For a moment, Bat thought maybe Mr. Grayson was going to let him skip the game and just hang out with Babycakes.
From "A Boy Called Bat" by Elana K. Arnold
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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.
