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.

---

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

---

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

• 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 March jobs report due Friday morning will help resolve an anxious question hanging over the economy: Was February’s big drop in jobs a temporary setback, or the start of a more serious downturn?

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

“We were just hanging out in New York. She’s single, I gotta show her the streets a little bit,” Wilson said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

The stock broke above the cup base pivot of $26.88 the second week of November jumping 10% on double the average weekly volume, until a bearish hanging man candle formed five weeks ago.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

In the video of the altercation, which was broken into clips and cross-posted across social media platforms, Peters and the woman are hanging out when Lentz arrives, upset.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2026

One girl who looks familiar is hanging on the arm of one of the guys while she laughs at something that must have been hysterical, while another poses next to them, taking a selfie.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam