hangs about

verb

present tense third-person singular of hang about, British
1
as in hangs (around or out)
to spend time doing nothing a tea house near campus where many university students could be seen hanging about

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2
as in plays
to spend time in aimless activity we'll be hanging about at the pub if you need us

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hangs about The hot air just hangs about, causing the dish to cook unevenly with some spots nearly raw and others burnt. — New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2025 Turquoise pearl, and azure line the space, and a cylindrical hanging light sculpture made of hundreds of white and gold ceramic fish hangs about the lounge seating area. — Kristin Braswell, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026 Though the sisters are supposedly first-generation Italian American, no whiff of the old country hangs about Kay; Dorothy will at least spit out a few words in Italian. — Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026 Despite Dickens’ canonical reputation, the author of door-stoppers such as Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickeleby, the stench of the entrepreneurial still hangs about him. — Literary Hub, 21 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hangs about
  1. kicks back
  2. plays
  3. rests
  4. messes around
  5. chills
  6. bums
Verb
  • Well … that’s where my skepticism kicks back in.
    — Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026
  • With their mandatory minicamp wrapping up on Thursday, the Chicago Bears get some time to rest before offseason programming kicks back into gear.
    — Jayna Bardahl, New York Times, 11 June 2026
Definition of kicks back
Verb
  • How Fiber Impacts Sleep Fiber plays many important roles in health, such as regulating blood lipid levels, promoting regular bowel movements, and fueling the growth of beneficial bacteria in your gut.
    — Jillian Kubala, Health, 7 July 2026
  • This Tom Holland isn’t the famous actor who plays Telemachus in Christopher Nolan’s new movie.
    — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026
Definition of plays
Verb
  • The authority of a judicial opinion rests not merely on its logic but on the accountability of the judge who signs it.
    — Joseph Andrew, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Nietzsche says somewhere that the illusion of willpower rests on our tendency to identify with the part of our soul that commands, not the part that obeys.
    — Meghan O’Gieblyn, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
Definition of rests
Verb
  • Other standouts include a Maybelline mascara and a Black and Decker handheld vacuum, which makes quick work of small messes around the house and in the car.
    — Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Definition of messes around
Verb
  • This nifty side table chills beverages for hours while doubling as a convenient spot to set down drinks or snacks.
    — Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
  • The current crisis in Iran has sent memories bubbling to the surface for the collective, and chills down the spines of viewers.
    — Chloe Shrager, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Definition of chills
Verb
  • Critical thinking really bums them out.
    — Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Then Jason and Thor shower together, each lathering the other’s back and bums up with fewer orgasms than an old Herbal Essences commercial.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2026
Definition of bums

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Cite this Entry

“Hangs about.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hangs%20about. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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