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.

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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

• 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

Iris Sun, principal investor of the global flagship fund at 500 Global in Palo Alto, tries to observe and nurture founders’ soft skills by spending more time hanging out than she did in previous years.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

The crowd drowns in the second-long tension as they sit below teardrop-shaped papier-mâché stalactite hanging from handmade alien geodes on the ceiling.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

Recent candlestick activity also reflects growing indecision, including a bearish engulfing candle on May 7 followed by two doji candles and a hanging man.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

Campbell said he’s also hanging onto agriculture exposure.

From MarketWatch • May 14, 2026

While hanging around my grandpa’s store, I had heard some weird tales about animals and people that had gone mad with hydrophobia.

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls