hang around
[verb]
Synonyms: frequent, affect, hang out, haunt, resort

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English Thesaurus: stay, remain, linger, loiter, hang around, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

hang around/round (something) phrasal verb informal (see also hang)
to wait or spend time somewhere, doing nothing:
I hung around the station for an hour but he never came.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

stay to not leave a place, or to be in a place for a particular period of time:
Stay where you are and don’t move.
John only stayed at the party for a couple of hours.
remain formal to stay somewhere. In written English, people often prefer to use remain rather than stay, because it sounds more formal:
Some 2,000 protesters remained outside the building and refused to leave.
The judge recommended that he remain in jail for the rest of his life.
linger to stay in a place a little longer than you need to, because you are enjoying yourself, or because you hope to see someone or something:
He lingered outside the lecture hall, hoping for a chance to talk to her.
There are plenty of small cafés where you can linger over a cappuccino.
loiter to stay in a place not doing anything – used when you think someone is waiting for the chance to do something bad or illegal:
The two men had been seen loitering in the area on the day that the car was stolen.
hang around informal to stay somewhere not doing anything:
There are gangs of boys hanging around on street corners.
I don’t mind hanging around for a few minutes.
The boss doesn’t like being kept hanging around.
stick around informal to stay in the same place or situation for a period of time, especially while you are waiting for something to happen or someone to arrive:
I decided to stick around and see how it all turned out.
Make up your mind. I’m not going to stick around forever.
a long stay
During his long stay in the south, he painted only one portrait.
a short/brief stay
No visa is required for short stays.
an overnight stay
Business trips may involve an overnight stay.
a pleasant/enjoyable stay
Our driver said goodbye and wished us a pleasant stay.
a hospital stay (also a stay in hospital British English, a stay in the hospital American English)
Sally is back at work after a short stay in hospital.
have a nice/pleasant etc stay
We hope you have a pleasant stay.
extend/prolong your stay (=stay longer)
He could not be persuaded to extend his stay.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

wait to stay somewhere or not do something until something else happens, someone arrives etc:
I’ll wait here while you call him.
He said he was waiting for a friend.
hang around (also hang about British English) informal to wait in a place not doing anything, especially so that you are wasting time:
They kept us hanging around for hours at the hospital.
hold on/hang on to wait because you are hoping that something will happen:
The captain decided it was best to hold on and wait for the other ship to arrive.
We hung on until the very last moment.
can you hold on/hang on? spoken used when telling someone to wait:
Can you hang on a minute? I just want to finish this email.
stand by/be on standby to wait and be ready to do something if needed – used especially about soldiers, police, medical teams etc:
The army are standing by.
Emergency services were on standby after someone called to say there was a bomb in the city centre.
await formal to wait for something – used about something that you know will happen or arrive:
I will await your reply (=in a formal letter).
In February, nearly 200,000 prisoners were awaiting trial.
The soldiers awaited the order to advance.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

hang around
1.
to stay in a place.
I don't like to hang around here after dark.

He had stupidly hung around — just to see what the cops were doing — and ended up being arrested!

2.
to be with another person.
I hate hanging around with her in the mall. It's so boring!

3.
to not go away.
The flu can hang around for almost a month.

Usage notes: usually said about a medical condition, as in the example

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

hang around
pass time or stay someplace without any real purpose or aim
We decided to stay home and hang around rather than go to the game.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

hang around
v., informal
1. To pass time or stay near without any real purpose or aim; loaf near or in.
The principal warned the students not to hang around the corner drugstore after school.
Compare: HANG OUT¹.
2. To spend time or associate,
Jim hangs around with some boys who live in his neighborhood.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲