hæŋ əˈraʊnd
informal
beginner
- Base verb:
- hang
- Particle:
- around
- Separable:
- No
What does "hang around" mean?
- To wait or stay somewhere without any particular purpose
- To spend time with someone
- To loiter or linger in a place
Examples
- Don't hang around waiting for me; I might be late.
- He's always hanging around the mall.
- Who does she hang around with?
- We hung around for an hour but no one came.
- I don't want you hanging around those people.
How to use it
'Hang around with' someone means to spend time with them regularly. Can have slightly negative connotation when implying wasting time or loitering.
Similar expressions
wait
loiter
spend time
linger
Opposites
leave
depart
Related phrasal verbs
- hang up
To end a phone call
- hang out
To spend time relaxing or socializing casually
- hang on
To wait for a short time
- hang back
To hesitate or be reluctant to act
- hang out with
To spend time casually with someone
- get around
To travel from place to place
Use it in a practice answer
Try "hang around" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.