hang-up

1 of 2

noun

: a source of mental or emotional difficulty
broadly : problem

hang up

2 of 2

verb

hung up; hanging up; hangs up

transitive verb

1
a
: to place on a hook or hanger designed for the purpose
hang up your coat
b
: to replace (a telephone receiver) on the cradle so that the connection is broken
2
: to keep delayed, suspended, or held up
3
: to cause to stick or snag immovably
the ship was hung up on a sandbar

intransitive verb

1
: to break a telephone connection
2
: to become stuck or snagged so as to be immovable

Examples of hang-up in a Sentence

Noun low self-esteem is only one of his many hang-ups
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Things don’t get any better once her parents accept their daughter is telepathic; Julia, as the caring mother, uses it as an opportunity to give Marielle a lesson in hang-up free sexuality (a concept that follows on from Hambalek’s first feature Model Olimpia), but that too misfires. Jay D. Weissberg, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2025 Campy, naughty, a little shocking, and a little old hat, The White Lotus’s third season has its flaws and its hang-ups, without question. Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2025
Verb
Duggan: The Rams definitely need to ask about No. 3, and the Giants definitely need to hang up the phone. Dan Duggan, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025 Fitzgerald reasoned the date was too soon and hung up. Stephanie Jones, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hang-up

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1952, in the meaning defined above

Verb

12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of hang-up was in the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Hang-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hang-up. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

hang-up

1 of 2 noun
ˈhaŋ-ˌəp
: a source of mental or emotional difficulty

hang up

2 of 2 verb
(ˈ)haŋ-ˈəp
1
a
: to place on a hook or hanger
hang up your coat
b
: to replace a telephone receiver on the cradle so that the connection is broken
also : to end a telephone conversation
2
: to snag or cause to snag so as to be immovable
a boat hung up on rocks
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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