# hang out

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hang-out
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

To spend time relaxing with friends or in a place without a specific plan. You use this when you are just enjoying someone's company.

For teachers: To spend time in an informal, unstructured manner in a specific location or with companions. The verb is typically intransitive, though it frequently takes a prepositional complement to specify the social context.

## Examples

- I usually hang out with my friends at the park.
- Instead of going to a fancy restaurant, we decided to just hang out at home and order some pizza.
- The youth of the village would often hang out by the old stone bridge, sharing stories and watching the river flow toward the distant valley.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I like to hang out my friends." but "I like to hang out with my friends." — The preposition 'with' is required when you mention the people you are spending time with.

## Usage notes

- Commonly followed by 'with' for people or 'at' for places.
- Teaching tip: Contrast this with 'spend time', which is more general; 'hang out' specifically implies leisure and a lack of a formal agenda.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.