hang behind
B1 neutral intransitive
In simple words
To stay in a place after everyone else has left, or to not keep up with a group.
Literal meaning: To remain hanging (staying) behind others.
Meanings
1 B1 neutral
To remain in a place after others have moved on or left.
"After the lecture ended, a few students hung behind to ask the professor questions."
2 B1 neutral
To move or act more slowly than the rest of a group.
"On the hike, the youngest children tended to hang behind and needed encouragement."
Usage notes
Less common than 'hang back' or 'stay behind'. Mainly used in physical, spatial contexts — a person hanging behind as others move on. It is rarely used in the figurative sense that 'hang back' can be.
Commonly used with
group class crowd minute moment
Forms
Base
hang behind
I/you/we/they
3rd person
hangs behind
he/she/it
Past simple
hung behind
yesterday
Past participle
hung behind
have + pp
-ing form
hanging behind
continuous
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Synonyms
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