Word
hanging
Phoneticshang·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈhæŋɡɪŋ/
UK/hˈæŋɪŋ/
Definitions
01execution
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Law
n. the act of killing someone by hanging them with a rope around the neck.
n. the act of executing a person by suspending them by the neck until dead.
Español:ahorcamiento
“In the past, a hanging was often a public event that many people attended.”
“The historian noted that public hangings served as a grim deterrent in eighteenth-century London, drawing massive crowds to the gallows.”
Synonyms
02decoration
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a large piece of fabric or a decoration that you hang on a wall.
n. a decorative object, such as a tapestry or curtain, suspended from a wall or ceiling.
“The colorful wall hanging made the living room feel much warmer.”
“The museum's collection includes several medieval silk hangings that have been carefully preserved to prevent light damage.”
03suspended
B1 · Intermediate
adj. attached to something above so that the bottom part can move.
adj. suspended from above; attached in a way that allows for free movement or dangling.
“The garden was full of hanging baskets filled with bright red flowers.”
“The architect designed a series of hanging gardens to soften the harsh concrete lines of the modern office complex.”
04disgusting
C1 · Advanced British English · Slang · Informal
adj. very ugly, unpleasant, or disgusting.
adj. extremely unattractive, repulsive, or of poor quality.
“I'm not eating that burger; it looks absolutely hanging.”
“He refused to stay in the hostel, claiming the bathrooms were hanging and the service was even worse.”
Teaching tip
This is a very informal Britishism; learners should use it only in casual speech with friends to avoid sounding rude.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“It makes you feel so worthless you don’t believe you even have the right to breathe,” Spiegelman tells his son, a cigarette hanging from his mouth.” “Sky City is also unapologetically bleak: there is a near constant effluvium of loneliness, hanging over the novel like the weather.” Etymology
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
From Middle English hangynge, honginge, equivalent to hang + -ing. Compare Old English hengen (“hanging”) and hōhing (“hanging”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Idioms
01. hanging offence
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/hanging
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0