Hanged or Hung | Difference & Meaning
Hung is the past tense of “hang,” but it is hanged if you are referring to an execution.
- The verb “hang” has two simple past tense and past participle forms: hung and hanged.
- Use “hung” for all meanings except “death by hanging,” when “hanged” is correct (e.g., “He hung the clothes on the line” vs. “He was hanged for his crimes”).
| Hanged in a sentence | Hung in a sentence |
|---|---|
| After arresting him in November 1605, they hanged him the following January. | This painting hung in my grandparents’ living room. |
| Many people believed they had hanged the wrong man. | Where have you hung the family portrait? |
| He was hanged for high treason. | These paintings are going to be hung in the hallway. |
Hung meaning
Hung is the past tense and past participle form of the verb “hang” for all meanings except “killing/death by hanging.”
I went to the movies and hung out with some friends.
Have you hung the laundry out to dry?
Hanged meaning
Hanged is the past tense and past participle form of the verb “hang,” but only when the meaning is “killing/death by hanging.”
The outlaw was eventually caught and hanged in 1881.
Frequently asked questions about hanged or hung
- Is it hung out or hanged out?
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The correct form of “hang out” is hung out (not hanged out) in the simple past tense and present perfect tense (e.g., “I hung out with my friends,” “We’ve never hung out together”).
If you’re not sure whether to use hung or hanged as the simple past or past participle form of the verb “hang,” always use “hung,” except when you’re referring to “death by hanging.”
Have you tried out QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker? You can use it to help choose the correct verb forms.
- What is the past tense of hang up?
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The simple past tense of the phrasal verb hang up is “hung up” (e.g., “He called yesterday, but I just hung up”).
On a related note, if you’re not sure whether you should use hung or hanged as the past participle or simple past form of the verb “hang;” “hung” is always correct, except when you’re referring to “death by hanging.”
QuillBot’s free Grammar checker will help you to select the correct form of tricky verbs like “hang up.”
