# hang with

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hang-with
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to spend time with

phrasal verb · CEFR B1 · American English · Informal

to spend time relaxing or socialising with someone.

For teachers: 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.

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

### 2. to keep up with

phrasal verb · CEFR B2 · American English · Informal · Slang

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

For teachers: 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.

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

## Examples

- I like to hang with my friends on weekends.
- After the movie finished, we decided to hang with the rest of the group at the park.
- While the older generation preferred formal dinners, the teenagers were content to simply hang with their peers at the local mall.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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