Hang: meaning, definitions and examples

Use 'hang' for describing placing objects such as pictures, clothes, or decorations on a wall or another support. It can also describe the act of killing someone by hanging.

• I will hang the picture on the wall.
• They decided to hang the decorations early this year.
• He was sentenced to hang for his crimes.

'Suspend' is suited for describing something that is hanging in a way that it prevents it from touching anything below or when temporarily stopping something. It is more formal.

• The lamp was suspended from the ceiling.
• The service has been suspended for maintenance.

'Dangle' applies when something is hanging loosely and swinging freely. It often implies motion and can sometimes have a playful or casual connotation.

• Her earrings dangled as she moved.
• The keys dangled from his finger.

'Fasten' is used when securing something firmly in place. This involves making sure something is firmly tied, closed, or attached.

• Please fasten your seatbelt.
• She fastened the necklace around her neck.

Suspending a person by a rope tied around their neck until they die. Often used in historical or legal contexts.

• The criminal was sentenced to hang for his crimes.
• In the past, many were hanged for treason.

Carrying out a death sentence, typically by an authorized legal method. It can involve various methods, not just hanging.

• The government executed the prisoner by lethal injection.
• He was executed for committing a series of murders.

Killing someone, especially by hanging, without legal trial, often by a mob. It carries a strong negative connotation and is associated with racial violence.

• The mob decided to lynch the suspect without a trial.
• Many innocent people were lynched during that period of unrest.

Referring to the loop at the end of a rope used for hanging people. It can also metaphorically indicate a situation where someone is trapped or in great danger.

• The hangman's noose was prepared for the execution.
• He felt like the noose was tightening around his neck with each passing day.

Used when speaking about the act of suspending something or someone in the air. It can be related to executions or just everyday activities like hanging a picture.

• They decided to hang the painting above the fireplace.
• In old times, they used to hang criminals as a form of punishment.

Refers to the structure used specifically for hanging people as a form of execution. It has a historical and often negative connotation.

• The condemned man walked towards the gallows.
• The gallows stood ominously in the town square as a reminder of swift justice.

A temporary platform used in construction or for executions. When related to executions, it generally refers to the whole setup including the platform and structure for hanging.

• The workers built a scaffold to reach the higher parts of the building.
• The scaffold was raised, and the crowd gathered to witness the execution.

Describes the loop at the end of a rope that tightens when pulled, often associated with hanging. It has a strong negative connotation related to executions and lynchings.

• The noose was prepared for the criminal’s execution.
• He could feel the noose tighten around his neck, a symbol of his impending doom.