adjective
Common
hung
HUHNG
Hung (adjective) means Suspended or attached from above. Example: “A hung lantern swayed gently over the garden table in the breeze.”
adjective
1
Suspended or attached from above.
"A hung lantern swayed gently over the garden table in the breeze."
"The freshly hung curtains made the whole bedroom look brighter."
"The paintings were hung at eye level along the corridor."
2
Describes a jury or legislature that cannot reach a decisive majority.
"The jury was hung, so the judge ordered a fresh trial."
"The trial ended with a hung jury after days of deadlock."
"The election produced a hung parliament, with no party in overall control."
3
(of a computer) Frozen and not responding.
"My laptop hung again, so I had to force a restart."
How to use hung
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPast tense/participle of "hang" — suspended, or (of a jury/parliament) stuck without a majority, or (of a computer) frozen.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
hung jury
hung parliament
the program hung
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more hung
- Superlative
- most hung
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A _____ lantern swayed gently over the garden table in the breeze.
Etymology
The past participle of "hang," from Old English hōn.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for hung
See all rhymes for hung →Frequently asked questions
What does “hung” mean?
The word “hung” means suspended or attached from above. In plain terms, past tense/participle of "hang" — suspended, or (of a jury/parliament) stuck without a majority, or (of a computer) frozen.
How do you pronounce “hung”?
“Hung” is pronounced HUHNG (/ˈhʌŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “hung” in a sentence?
Here is “hung” used in a sentence: “The paintings were hung at eye level along the corridor.”
What part of speech is “hung”?
“Hung” is an adjective.
Where does the word “hung” come from?
The word “hung” comes from Old English. The past participle of "hang," from Old English hōn.
Is “hung” a common word?
“Hung” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “hung” have?
“Hung” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: suspended or attached from above.
What is the difference between 'hung' and 'hanged'?
'Hung' is the usual past form when something is suspended or attached from above, as in 'she hung the picture on the wall.' 'Hanged' is traditionally reserved for execution by hanging, as in 'the prisoner was hanged.' Using 'hung' for objects and 'hanged' for executions is the standard distinction.
When should you use 'hung' instead of 'hanged'?
Use 'hung' for curtains, pictures, clothes, and almost everything that is suspended or displayed. Reserve 'hanged' only for the sense of putting a person to death by hanging. In every other context, 'hung' is correct.
What is a hung jury?
A hung jury is a jury that cannot reach the required agreement, whether a unanimous verdict or a set majority. Because the jurors are deadlocked, no verdict is delivered, and the case may be retried.
What is a hung parliament?
A hung parliament, or hung legislature, is one in which no single party wins an outright majority of the seats. This makes it harder to form a government and often leads to coalitions or agreements between parties.
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