1 A2 neutral
To end a telephone call.
"She was so angry that she hung up without saying goodbye."
separable
hang up
A2 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To end a phone call; to put something on a hook or hanger; or (figuratively) to stop doing an activity permanently.
In plain English
To end a phone call, to put something on a hook, or to quit something you've been doing for a long time.
What does "hang up" mean?
4 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 A2 neutral
To place something on a hook, hanger, or nail.
"Please hang your coat up when you come in."
separable
3 B1 idiomatic neutral
(Figurative) To retire from a sport, job, or activity, often permanently.
"After thirty years in the ring, the champion finally decided to hang up his gloves."
separable
4 B2 idiomatic informal
(Be hung up on) To be emotionally preoccupied with or anxious about something.
"He's still hung up on his ex-girlfriend even though they broke up two years ago."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To hang something up (on a hook or hanger, in an elevated position).
Actually means
To end a phone call, to put something on a hook, or to quit something you've been doing for a long time.
Usage tip
The phone sense comes from the era when receivers were hung on hooks. Still used universally even for mobile phones where nothing is literally 'hung'. The figurative sense ('hang up one's boots') means to retire from an activity. 'Be hung up on' means to be emotionally preoccupied with something.
Words that pair with "hang up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
phone coat boots gloves picture laundry call
How to conjugate "hang up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
hang up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
hangs up
he/she/it
Past simple
hung up
yesterday
Past participle
hung up
have + pp
-ing form
hanging up
continuous
Hear "hang up" in the wild
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Other ways to say "hang up"
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Keep exploring
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