Hang About

A2 8+

Pronunciation: /hæŋ əˈbaʊt/

Definitions of hang about

verb to spend time in a place without any specific purpose or to wait around

Example Sentences

A1 Please hang about while I finish my work.

A2 I told him to hang about until I could join him.

B1 I don't have time to hang about, I need to catch the bus.

B2 Let's hang about here for a bit and see if anyone else shows up.

C1 I can't just hang about waiting for things to happen, I need to take action.

C2 Despite the urgency of the situation, they decided to hang about and gather more information before acting.

adverb in a casual or relaxed manner

Example Sentences

A1 I can't hang about, I have to catch the bus.

A2 Let's not hang about here, we need to keep moving.

B1 We can hang about for a bit and see if anyone else shows up.

B2 I don't want to hang about in this area, it doesn't feel safe.

C1 We decided to hang about the city for a few more days to explore further.

C2 I don't mind hanging about at the airport, I have a good book to read.

Examples of hang about in a Sentence

formal Please do not hang about in the hallway, it is meant for passing through.

informal Hey, hang about for a minute, I have something to tell you.

slang Let's hang about at the park and chill for a bit.

figurative I can't just hang about waiting for things to happen, I need to take action.

Grammatical Forms of hang about

past tense

hung about

plural

hangs about

comparative

hangs about more

superlative

hangs about most

present tense

hang about

future tense

will hang about

perfect tense

has/have hung about

continuous tense

is hanging about

singular

hangs about

positive degree

hang about

infinitive

to hang about

gerund

hanging about

participle

hung about

Origin and Evolution of hang about

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Middle English
Story behind the word: The term 'hang about' originated from Middle English, where 'hang' meant to linger or stay in a place.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the phrase 'hang about' has evolved to mean to spend time in a place without any specific purpose or to loiter aimlessly.