verb
Uncommon
hanged
HANGD
Hanged (verb) means past tense of "hang" used specifically for execution by the neck. Example: “He was hanged at dawn for his crimes.”
verb
1
Past tense of "hang" used specifically for execution by the neck.
"He was hanged at dawn for his crimes."
"In the old tale, the thief was hanged in the market square."
"The museum explains how prisoners were once hanged in public."
How to use hanged
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe past tense of "hang" reserved for executions, as opposed to "hung" for objects.
Common mistake
Use "hanged" only for people being executed; use "hung" for pictures, clothes, and other objects.
Easily confused with
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He was _____ at dawn for his crimes.
Rhymes for hanged
See all rhymes for hanged →Frequently asked questions
What does “hanged” mean?
The word “hanged” means past tense of "hang" used specifically for execution by the neck. In plain terms, the past tense of "hang" reserved for executions, as opposed to "hung" for objects.
How do you pronounce “hanged”?
“Hanged” is pronounced HANGD (/ˈhæŋd/ in IPA).
How do you use “hanged” in a sentence?
Here is “hanged” used in a sentence: “He was hanged at dawn for his crimes.”
What part of speech is “hanged”?
“Hanged” is a verb.
Is “hanged” a common word?
“Hanged” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between hanged and hung?
Hanged is the past tense of "hang" used specifically for execution by the neck, as in "the prisoner was hanged." Hung is used for all other past-tense meanings of hang, such as hanging a picture or hanging clothes.
Is it correct to say a person was hung instead of hanged?
Strict usage reserves hanged for describing a person's execution and treats hung as incorrect in that context. Careful writers keep the distinction, using hanged only for people put to death by hanging and hung for objects.
Why does English have two different past tenses for hang?
English developed two separate past-tense forms of "hang" so that the grim, specific act of execution could be marked with its own word, hanged, distinct from the everyday sense of suspending objects, which uses hung. This distinction is a matter of convention rather than a strict grammatical rule found elsewhere in English verbs.
