hanging

American  

[hang-ing] / ˈhæŋ ɪŋ /

noun

• hangings
  plural

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

• unhanging
  adjective
• hangingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• hangings
  plural

Etymology

Origin of hanging

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hanging hangings

A key feature already in place, hanging from the ceiling, is an array of steel clouds packed with concrete, designed to improve acoustics and evoke a sense of airiness.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

"There's now a path for Unison members to give their verdict without the immediate threat of dismissal and re-engagement hanging over them."

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026

“Tech is hanging in there, and everything else is just falling quite honestly in a straight line,” said Scott Brown, founder at Brown Technical Insights.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 1, 2026

And: Is the former CEO still hanging around as a shadow leader?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

“Thanks for hanging out with me this summer,” I say into his soft, dark hair.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

Dahlia Lithwick: In a country that historically did beheadings, hangings, all sorts of objectively gross executions, the decision was made somewhere along the line to medicalize executions, to make it look like dental surgery.

From Slate ● Oct. 6, 2026

The transformation took 875 hours and included the installation of emerald-green silk wall hangings and new lighting.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

It does not, for example, permit wall hangings that don’t actually exist.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 3, 2026

The bed, fitted with exquisite blue-and-white toile hangings, reflects the Washingtons’ taste.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 7, 2026

Gritting his teeth, he grabbed hold of the bed hangings and yanked.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin