hang in

verb

hung in; hanging in; hangs in

intransitive verb

informal : to refuse to be discouraged or intimidated : to keep going, trying, or working in a difficult situation
… did not hang in long enough to win even a battle. Marvin E. Frankel
Hoping to hang in until some series he works on runs five years and makes him $50 million in syndication … Chris Chase
often used in the phrase hang in there
If there was ever a mismatched couple it was this one, but the children begged them to hang in there. Joseph Wambaugh
If she hung in there long enough, he would change. It just took a lot of patience with a little reasoning. Gloria Naylor

Examples of hang in in a Sentence

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.
After someone with measles coughs or sneezes — or even breathes–— tiny droplets of the virus hang in the air like ghosts for up to two hours, waiting to infect anyone who wanders by. Lisa Jarvis, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2025 As diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs face cuts across industries, the future of workplace accessibility and inclusion for disabled and neurodivergent individuals hangs in the balance. Jennifer Jay Palumbo, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025 To watch him, in any one of his almost insanely varied roles, often meant sitting there with your jaw hanging in disbelief. Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 27 Feb. 2025 Point out that even as democracy hangs in the balance, a planet ravaged by ever-deadlier heat waves, fires and storms isn’t a place any of us want to live. Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hang in

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hang in was in 1966

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hang in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hang%20in. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

hang in

verb
informal
: to refuse to be discouraged or frightened
Hang in there, kid! Don't quit.

More from Merriam-Webster on hang in

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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