hang back

H h

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
- [hang bak]
- /hæŋ bæk/
- /hæŋ bæk/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [hang bak]
- /hæŋ bæk/

Definitions of hang back words

verb with object hang back to fasten or attach (a thing) so that it is supported only from above or at a point near its own top; suspend. 1
verb with object hang back to attach or suspend so as to allow free movement: to hang a pendulum. 1
verb with object hang back to place in position or fasten so as to allow easy or ready movement. 1
verb with object hang back to put to death by suspending by the neck from a gallows, gibbet, yardarm, or the like. 1
verb with object hang back to suspend (oneself) by the neck until dead: He hanged himself from a beam in the attic. 1
verb with object hang back to fasten to a cross; crucify. 1

See all 58 definitions of hang back

Information block about the term

Origin of hang back

First appearance:

before 900

One of the 4% oldest English words

before 900; fusion of 3 verbs: (1) Middle English, Old English hōn to hang (transitive), cognate with Gothic hāhan, orig. *haghan; (2) Middle English hang(i)en, Old English hangian to hang (intransitive), cognate with German hangen; (3) Middle English henge < Old Norse hengja (transitive), cognate with German hängen to hang

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Hang back

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Hang back

hang back popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 96% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

hang back usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for hang back

verb hang back

hold back — to elude or evade by a sudden shift of position or by strategy: to dodge a blow; to dodge a question.
hover — to hang fluttering or suspended in the air: The helicopter hovered over the building.
pause — a temporary stop or rest, especially in speech or action: a short pause after each stroke of the oar.
procrastinate — to defer action; delay: to procrastinate until an opportunity is lost.
stick — a thrust with a pointed instrument; stab.

All 11 Synonyms of hang back