To spend relaxed, informal time with friends or in a place; also to display something by hanging it in the open air.
To spend free time with friends in a casual way, or to put something outside to dry or display.
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
To spend relaxed, casual time with friends without a formal plan.
"We usually hang out at Mia's place on Saturday evenings."
"We used to hang out and talk about music for hours."
— Bruce Springsteen, interview (general attribution)
To put washing or other items outside so they hang in the open air.
"She hung the wet towels out on the line before the weather changed."
To spend time in or frequent a particular place habitually.
"Artists and writers used to hang out at the café on the corner."
To hang something out (in the open air); or to be 'out' (outdoors or available) hanging around.
To spend free time with friends in a casual way, or to put something outside to dry or display.
Extremely common in casual speech. The social sense ('hang out with friends') is especially frequent among younger speakers. The literal sense ('hang out the washing') is also common in British English. The noun form 'hangout' (one word) refers to a favourite place to spend time.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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