Word
dangling
Phoneticsdan·gling
US/ˈdæŋɡəɫɪŋ/
UK/dˈæŋɡəlɪŋ/
Definition
adj. hanging or swinging loosely from something. You use this to describe things that are not fixed in place and move freely in the air.
adj. hanging or swinging loosely, often without support from below. Frequently used as a participial adjective in both attributive and predicative positions.
Examples
“The child sat on the wall with dangling legs.”
“A few dangling wires hung from the ceiling after the storm damaged the light fixture.”
“The climber remained focused on the rock face, ignoring the dangling rope that swayed rhythmically in the wind several hundred feet above the valley floor.”
Examples
simple
“The child sat on the wall with dangling legs.”
contextual
“A few dangling wires hung from the ceiling after the storm damaged the light fixture.”
complex
“The climber remained focused on the rock face, ignoring the dangling rope that swayed rhythmically in the wind several hundred feet above the valley floor.”
Usage
Often used to describe limbs, jewelry, or electrical components that hang without support.
Real-World Examples
“And now he’s been at City in the period of inflated income that has, in effect, left the club dangling over the edge of a cliff.” Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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