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Synonyms

hangout

American  
[hang-out] / ˈhæŋˌaʊt /

noun

Informal.

  1. a place where people gather for casual socializing or recreation.

    The pub is an ultracasual hangout, mostly frequented by undergraduates from the local university.

  2. a place that a person frequently visits, especially for socializing or recreation.

    The record store was one of my favorite neighborhood hangouts when I was a kid.

verb phrase

  1. to lean or be suspended through an opening.

    If you hang out the window that far, you're likely to fall right out!

  2. to suspend in open view; display.

    Her family hangs out the flag every day, not just on holidays.

  3. Informal. to frequent a particular place, especially in one's free time.

    We’ve all got friends who would rather hang out at a bookstore with a glass of wine than go clubbing.

  4. Informal. to linger or loiter somewhere.

    We’ve got nothing better to do, so we’ll probably just hang out.

  5. Informal. to spend time with someone.

    I’d love the chance to hang out with some like-minded folks.

  6. Informal. to wait, especially briefly.

    Hang out a minute while I get my backpack.

  7. Slang. to calm down.

    Hang out, Mom, I'm OK.

Etymology

Origin of hangout

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55; noun use of verb phrase 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.

While the gym isn't their main hangout, it's a big one, they admit.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

Although violence has occasionally occurred at the beach, a popular hangout near LAX known for large parties and bonfires, the surrounding area has had lower violent-crime rates, historically, than other parts of the city.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2026

But I find that I miss, unexpectedly, the culture of the potluck hangout: the casual gathering built around the modest premise that everyone brings something and the group shares.

From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026

This no-device speakeasy would be less structured around work and more like a hangout: Someone just kicks off a conversation and folks follow on.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 5, 2026

But it had gotten stuck in the mud and was becoming a popular hangout for birds.

From "The Wild Robot Escapes" by Peter Brown

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.