1 A2 informal
To stay in a place without a clear purpose; to wait or loiter.
"A group of teenagers were hanging about outside the shopping centre."
hang about
A2 informal intransitive
To stay in a place doing nothing, or to wait for someone; also used as an exclamation meaning 'wait a moment'.
In plain English
To stay somewhere without doing much, or to tell someone to wait.
What does "hang about" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic informal
(British, exclamation) Wait a moment; used to interrupt or express sudden doubt.
"Hang about — didn't you say you'd already paid for this?"
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To hang (stay suspended) in a place, approximately.
Actually means
To stay somewhere without doing much, or to tell someone to wait.
Usage tip
Predominantly British English. Used both as a verb meaning to wait or linger, and as an exclamation ('Hang about! That doesn't seem right.'). American English speakers would more commonly say 'hang around' or 'hold on'.
Words that pair with "hang about"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
outside corner all day minute second
How to conjugate "hang about"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
hang about
I/you/we/they
3rd person
hangs about
he/she/it
Past simple
hung about
yesterday
Past participle
hung about
have + pp
-ing form
hanging about
continuous
Hear "hang about" in the wild
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Other ways to say "hang about"
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