hung
gb/hˈʌŋ/ us/hˈʌŋ/
A2
English
~ 7000
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A2
action
1
suspended or attached from above
The past form of “hang”: to put something on a hook, line, wall, or similar place so it is held at the top and falls down.
Usage pattern:
[someone] hung [something] [somewhere]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse “hung” and “hanged.” Use “hung” for most everyday actions (hung a coat, hung a picture). In careful modern English, “hanged” is usually preferred when talking about killing someone by hanging as a form of execution.
Synonyms
suspended (More formal; often used for things hanging in the air or from structures.)
|
put up (More informal and general; can mean attach or display, not always literally hanging.)
Antonyms
took down (Describes removing something that was previously hung up.)
Collocations
hung his coat
|hung the picture
|hung from the ceiling
|hung on the wall
|hung the curtains
|hung around his neck
Themes
daily life
|home
|objects
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She hung her coat on the back of the chair.
- They hung the new painting above the fireplace.
- A crystal chandelier was hung from the ceiling in the dining room.
- Colorful flags were hung along the street for the festival.
- He hung his backpack on a hook by the door.
Learner examples
- I hung my jacket in the closet.
- They hung a big clock on the wall.
- We hung lights in the garden for the party.
- He hung his keys on a small hook.
- A picture of my family is hung over my desk.
adjective
B2
property
2
evenly divided, no majority
Used about a group that must decide something (like a jury or parliament) when the votes are split and no side has enough power to win.
Usage pattern:
a hung [parliament/jury/election]
Common mistake:
Learners may think “hung” in “hung jury” or “hung parliament” means something is physically hanging. In this use, it means the group is stuck and cannot reach a result because the votes are split.
Synonyms
deadlocked (Very close in meaning; often used for juries or negotiations that cannot move forward.)
|
stalemated (Emphasizes that progress is blocked, often in politics or negotiations.)
Antonyms
decisive (A decisive result clearly favors one side, unlike a hung result.)
Collocations
hung jury
|hung parliament
|hung election
|hung council
Themes
politics
|law
Examples
- The trial ended with a hung jury, so the case may be retried.
- Voters delivered a hung parliament, forcing parties to negotiate a coalition.
- Another hung election has created uncertainty about who will lead the country.
- Local elections produced a hung council with no party in overall control.
- Analysts had predicted a clear victory, but the result was surprisingly hung.
Learner examples
- The jury was hung, so there was no verdict.
- The country now has a hung parliament.
- A hung election means no party wins enough seats.
- Talks are slow because the council is hung.
- With a hung parliament, parties must work together.
adjective
vulgar
C1
property
3
of a man, large penis
A vulgar slang word to say that a man’s penis is very big.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is (well) hung
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this sense is vulgar and sexual. It should be avoided in polite or formal situations and is mainly found in sexual talk, jokes, or adult media.
Synonyms
well-endowed (Still sexual but more euphemistic and slightly less vulgar.)
Antonyms
small (In this context, refers to having a small penis, the opposite of being ‘hung’.)
Collocations
well hung
|really hung
|very hung
|hung guy
Themes
relationships
|body
Examples
- The character is described as tall, confident, and very hung.
- She joked to her friends that her new boyfriend was surprisingly hung.
- Some online profiles use codes or emojis instead of directly saying someone is hung.
- The comedian made a crude joke about not being hung.
- That movie gained attention for casting a famously hung actor.
Learner examples
- This word is vulgar and means a man has a big penis.
- People sometimes say a man is well hung in sexual talk.
- Do not use the word hung like this in polite conversation.
- The joke was rude because it said the man was not hung.
- She bragged that her partner was very hung, which was not polite.
Verb
C1
action
4
killed by hanging the neck
The past form of “hang” when someone is killed by a rope around the neck. In careful English, many people use “hanged” instead of “hung” for this meaning.
Usage pattern:
[authority] hung [someone] (for [crime])
Common mistake:
There is strong confusion between “hung” and “hanged.” For this killing sense, many style guides and teachers recommend using “hanged” (e.g., “He was hanged for murder”). Learners should normally write “hanged” for executions and “hung” for ordinary actions (like hanging a coat or picture).
Synonyms
executed (More general; can describe any official killing as punishment, not just hanging.)
Antonyms
pardoned (If someone is pardoned, they are forgiven and not killed, the opposite outcome of being hung.)
Collocations
was hung for murder
|they hung the prisoner
|publicly hung
|to be hung by the neck
Themes
crime
|law
|history
Examples
- In older texts you often read that thieves were hung for even small crimes.
- The rebels were hung as a warning to others.
- Many people today would write that the prisoner was hanged, not hung.
- He was nearly hung for a crime he did not commit.
- The story describes how the accused man was tried, convicted, and hung at dawn.
Learner examples
- In the past, some criminals were hung in public.
- Today, most writers say the man was hanged, not hung.
- He feared that he would be hung for his actions.
- The book says the woman was hung for witchcraft.
- They were almost hung, but the king stopped the punishment.
adjective
technical
C1
property
5
meat aged by hanging
Used for meat that has been left hanging for some time so that it becomes more tender and tasty.
Usage pattern:
hung [meat type]
Synonyms
aged (General term; can refer to meat, cheese, or other foods kept for flavor, not only hung.)
|
dry-aged (More specific; refers to meat aged without being sealed, often by hanging in cool air.)
Antonyms
fresh (Meat that has not been aged or hung at all.)
Collocations
hung beef
|well-hung meat
|properly hung
|hung game
Themes
food
|cooking
|food_drink
Examples
- The restaurant is known for its thirty-day hung beef.
- Properly hung meat develops a deeper, richer flavor.
- The chef prefers using well-hung game for his signature dishes.
- This butcher offers both fresh and hung cuts of steak.
- Traditional recipes often call for hung venison to tenderize the meat.
Learner examples
- The chef uses hung beef for the best taste.
- Hung meat is kept for some days before cooking.
- They say well-hung meat is more soft and rich.
- The butcher sells both fresh and hung meat.
- Some people do not like the strong taste of very hung meat.
Grammar
Dictionary form
hung
IPA
GB/hˈʌŋ/
US/hˈʌŋ/
Syllables & stress
hung (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (hung)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: hung
- Comparative: hunger
- Superlative: hungest
Verb
- Base: hung
- 3rd Person Singular: hungs
- Present Participle: hunging
- Past: hunged
- Past Participle: hunged
Word family
Expressions
be hung up on [something/someone]
1/bˈi hˈʌŋ ˈʌp ˈɔn səmˈɛθɪŋsˈoʊmˈoʊn/
idiom
informal
unable to move past something
To think or worry about something or someone too much, so that it is hard to move on.
Examples
- He’s still hung up on his ex, even after two years.
- Try not to be so hung up on small mistakes.
- She’s really hung up on what her parents think of her career.
get hung up on [something]
1/ɡˈɛt hˈʌŋ ˈʌp ˈɔn sˈʌmθɪŋ/
idiom
informal
focus too much on one detail
To think too much about one problem or detail so that you cannot continue or see the bigger picture.
Examples
- Don’t get hung up on the exact wording; just send the email.
- We got hung up on one paragraph and never finished the report.
- Students often get hung up on grammar and forget to communicate their ideas.
hang on every word
1/hˈæŋ ˈɔn ˈɛvɹi wˈɚd/
idiom
listen with great attention
To listen very closely and with great interest to everything someone says.
Examples
- The audience hung on every word of her speech.
- As a child, he hung on every word his grandfather told him.
- They sat in silence, hanging on the expert’s every word.
hung election
1/hˈʌŋ ɪlˈɛkʃən/
fixed phrase
election with no clear winner
An election result where no party clearly wins enough power to run the government by itself.
Examples
- The country is facing a hung election and possible instability.
- A hung election often leads to coalition governments.
- Polls suggest another hung election is likely.
hung like a horse
1/hˈʌŋ lˈaɪk ə hˈɔɹs/
idiom
vulgar
man with extremely large penis
A very vulgar and joking way to say that a man’s penis is extremely big.
Examples
- The comedian made a crude joke about being hung like a horse.
- That rumor about him being hung like a horse is just gossip.
- It’s not polite to say someone is hung like a horse in normal conversation.
hung out to dry
1/hˈʌŋ ˈaʊt tə dɹˈaɪ/
idiom
informal
left without help or support
To leave someone alone to take all the blame or problems, without helping them.
Examples
- She felt hung out to dry by her teammates after the mistake.
- The company hung its junior staff out to dry during the scandal.
- He was promised support but was eventually hung out to dry.
hung over
1/hˈʌŋ ˈoʊvɚ/
fixed phrase
informal
sick after drinking too much
Feeling sick, tired, and uncomfortable because you drank too much alcohol the day or night before.
Examples
- I’m so hung over; I shouldn’t have had that last drink.
- He was too hung over to go to his morning class.
- She came to work hung over and regretted going out so late.
hung parliament
1/hˈʌŋ pˈɑɹləmənt/
fixed phrase
parliament with no majority
A situation after an election when no political party has enough seats in parliament to govern alone.
Examples
- The election produced a hung parliament and weeks of coalition talks.
- In a hung parliament, smaller parties often gain more influence.
- Another hung parliament has made forming a stable government difficult.
well-hung
1/wˈɛl hˈʌŋ/
idiom
vulgar
man with a large penis
A vulgar way to say that a man’s penis is very big.
Examples
- The character is described as a well-hung actor in the gossip column.
- That joke about being well-hung was too rude for a work meeting.
- Some ads secretly make fun of the idea of being well-hung.
hang out
1/hˈæŋ ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
informal
Spend leisure time casually
To spend time with people for fun without special plans.
Examples
- We like to hang out at the beach after work.
- We hung out at the park all afternoon.
- Do you want to hang out this weekend?
- They usually hang out at the café after class.
hang up
1/hˈæŋ ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
End a phone call abruptly or normally
To stop a telephone call by putting down the phone or pressing a button.
Examples
- She hung up before I could say goodbye.
- Don’t hang up, I have more to tell you.
- If you receive a strange call, just hang up.
- He angrily hung up the phone in the middle of the argument.
hung jury
1/hˈʌŋ d͡ʒˈʊɹi/
fixed phrase
jury unable to reach verdict
A group of people in a trial (the jury) that cannot agree on a decision, so there is no verdict.
Examples
- The judge declared a mistrial because of a hung jury.
- After three days of discussion, the case ended in a hung jury.
- A hung jury means the trial may have to be repeated with new jurors.
hung jury
2/hˈʌŋ d͡ʒˈʊɹi/
fixed phrase
technical
jury that cannot agree on verdict
A jury that cannot all agree on one decision, so they cannot give a verdict.
Examples
- The judge declared a mistrial after the second hung jury.
- The first trial ended in a hung jury, so the case will be tried again.