1 B2 neutral
To arrange people or things in a long, extended line.
"The convoy was strung out over five miles of mountain road."
separable
string out
B2 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To spread things in a long line, or (slang) to be in a disorientated state from drug use.
In plain English
To spread things out in a long thin line, or (slang) to be badly affected by drugs.
What does "string out" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic slang
(Slang) To be in a physically or mentally impaired state due to heavy drug use or addiction.
"He was strung out on heroin for years before getting treatment."
3 B2 idiomatic informal
To be extremely tense, anxious, or emotionally exhausted.
"By the end of the project, the whole team was completely strung out."
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To arrange things in a long string (line) — the slang sense derives from the idea of nerves stretched to breaking point.
Actually means
To spread things out in a long thin line, or (slang) to be badly affected by drugs.
Usage tip
The physical sense is used to describe soldiers, vehicles, or people spread over a long distance. The drug-related sense ('strung out') is informal/slang and very common in that context. 'Strung out' as an adjective is more frequent than the verbal form.
Words that pair with "string out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
line formation troops convoy drugs heroin highway
How to conjugate "string out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
string out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
strings out
he/she/it
Past simple
stringed out
yesterday
Past participle
stringed out
have + pp
-ing form
stringing out
continuous
Hear "string out" in the wild
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Other ways to say "string out"
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