hanging
8 synonyms for hanging, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Suspended or dangling from something.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adj
Suspended or dangling from something.
“Hanging baskets of flowers lined the porch.”
2. noun
Execution by suspending someone by the neck.
“Public hangings were once common in the town square.”
How to use hanging
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
hanging basket
sentenced to hanging
Etymology
From "hang" + "-ing."
Full origin of hanging →Frequently asked questions
What does “hanging” mean?
The word “hanging” means suspended or dangling from something. In plain terms, something suspended from above, or (as a noun) an execution by the neck.
How do you pronounce “hanging”?
“Hanging” is pronounced HANG-ihng (/ˈhæŋ.ɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “hanging” in a sentence?
Here is “hanging” used in a sentence: “Hanging baskets of flowers lined the porch.”
What part of speech is “hanging”?
Depending on how it is used, “hanging” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “hanging” a common word?
“Hanging” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “hanging” have?
“Hanging” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: suspended or dangling from something.
What is an example of 'hanging' as an adjective?
Think of a hanging basket of flowers, a hanging light over a table, or the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon. In each phrase, 'hanging' tells you the thing is suspended from above rather than resting on the ground. It describes the object's fixed, dangling position.
What is the difference between 'hanging' and 'dangling'?
Both mean suspended, but 'dangling' adds a sense of loose, uncontrolled swinging, like a dangling thread or shoelace. 'Hanging' is broader and often more deliberate: a hanging picture is fixed in place, not swinging. So all dangling things are hanging, but not everything hanging dangles freely.
Can 'hanging' be used figuratively?
Yes. A 'hanging question' or a matter 'left hanging' is one still unresolved, as if suspended in mid-air. A 'cliffhanger' leaves an audience dangling in suspense. These uses borrow the literal image of something suspended and unsettled, applying it to situations that have not yet come to rest.
Related words
portiere
portière
