hung
B1Neutral to informal (depending on context). The judicial sense ('hanged') is formal.
Definition
Meaning
The past tense and past participle of the verb 'hang', primarily meaning to be suspended from above or attached at the top with the lower part free.
Can describe a state of suspension or attachment (e.g., 'the picture is hung'); in informal contexts, can refer to being delayed or stuck (e.g., 'the project got hung up'); slang for being well-endowed (male). In legal/judicial contexts, 'hanged' is the correct term for execution by suspension from the neck.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The past participle 'hung' is used for most general senses (objects, decorations). 'Hanged' is exclusively and correctly used for execution by hanging. The slang sense is vulgar and informal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use 'hung' for objects and 'hanged' for execution. The slang usage is common in both. No major syntactic difference.
Connotations
The judicial distinction ('hanged' vs. 'hung') is strongly upheld in careful writing in both varieties, though 'hung' is sometimes erroneously used for execution in casual speech.
Frequency
'Hung' is extremely frequent as the past form of 'hang' in all contexts except execution.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] hung [PP] (e.g., He hung the coat on the hook)[NP] was/were hung [with NP] (e.g., The hall was hung with banners)[NP] hung [AdvP] (e.g., The decision hung in the balance)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hung out to dry”
- “hung up on”
- “hung in the balance”
- “hung jury”
- “hung parliament”
- “hung over”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Informal: 'The merger hung in the balance for weeks.' Refers to a state of uncertainty.
Academic
Used descriptively in history/art: 'The tapestries were hung along the gallery walls.'
Everyday
Very common: 'I hung the washing out.' 'We hung out at the park.'
Technical
In construction/design: 'A hung ceiling' refers to a secondary ceiling installed below the main structure.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She hung the Union Jack from her window.
- The committee hung fire for a month.
- We hung about waiting for the bus.
American English
- He hung the American flag on the porch.
- The jury hung on the murder charge.
- They hung out at the mall.
adjective
British English
- We have a hung parliament.
- He was absolutely hung over after the party.
- It's a beautifully hung exhibition.
American English
- The case resulted in a hung jury.
- I'm too hung over to work.
- The newly hung curtains look great.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I hung my coat on the hook.
- The picture is hung on the wall.
- She hung up the phone.
- They hung the decorations for the party.
- The wet clothes were hung outside to dry.
- The future of the company hung in the balance.
- After the election, the country faced a hung parliament.
- He felt hung out to dry by his colleagues.
- The controversial art was hung in the main gallery.
- The defendant was hanged, not hung, for treason—a crucial lexical distinction.
- The delicate mobile hung in perfect equilibrium, catching the light.
- Talks have hung fire due to unresolved regulatory issues.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a young (sounds like 'hung') person who hung a swing from a strong tree branch.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUSPENSION IS UNCERTAINTY (e.g., 'the decision hung in the air'), ATTACHMENT IS CONNECTION (e.g., 'hung on his every word').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not use 'hung' for execution. In Russian, 'вешать' has one past tense 'вешал' for objects and 'вешал/повесил' for execution. English requires 'hanged' for execution. Also, 'hung over' (похмелье) is a phrasal adjective, not a literal translation of 'висел сверху'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'hung' instead of 'hanged' for execution (e.g., 'He was hung for his crimes' is incorrect). Confusing 'hung' (past tense) with 'hang' (present).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'hanged' the only correct past participle?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
For execution by hanging, always use 'hanged' (e.g., 'He was hanged at dawn'). For any other context of suspension (e.g., 'He hung from the monkey bars'), use 'hung'.
It's an informal adjective meaning suffering from the after-effects of drinking too much alcohol (a hangover).
A jury that cannot agree on a unanimous verdict, resulting in a mistrial for that case.
Yes, in contexts like 'hung parliament', 'hung jury', or 'hung over'. It describes a state resulting from the verb 'hang'.