English Reference

Phrasal verb

hang with

Definitions

01to spend time with

B1

phr.v. to spend time relaxing or socialising with someone.

phr.v. to socialise or spend leisure time with a person or group. This sense is synonymous with 'hang out with' and is highly informal.

“I usually hang with my friends at the park after school on Fridays.”

“During the summer break, he preferred to hang with the local musicians rather than stay at the tourist resorts with his family.”

American English · Informal

Usage

The verb is intransitive but always takes the preposition 'with' followed by an object.

Antonyms

02to keep up with

B2

phr.v. to be able to perform at the same level as others in a difficult situation.

phr.v. to maintain a comparable level of skill, speed, or endurance relative to others in a competitive or demanding context.

“The new runner is fast, but she can't quite hang with the professionals yet.”

“Although he was the youngest player on the court, he proved he could hang with the veterans during the high-intensity drills.”

American English · Informal · Slang

Usage

Often used in negative constructions to indicate a lack of ability to compete.

Antonyms

Teaching tip

this is a shortened version of 'hang out with'; it is very common in American English and helps students sound more natural in casual conversations.

Phrasal verb

Particles

with

Separability

inseparable

Pattern

hang + with + object

Synonyms

socializespend time withhang out with

Antonyms

avoidshunstay away from

Grammar

This entry

Level
B1 · Intermediate
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/hang-with

English Reference