dangle

American  

[dang-guhl] / ˈdæŋ gəl /

verb (used without object)

dangled, dangling

1. to hang loosely, especially with a jerking or swaying motion.

   The rope dangled in the breeze.

   Synonyms:

   flap, sway, swing

2. to hang around or follow a person, as if seeking favor or attention.

3. Grammar. to occur as a modifier without a head or as a participle without an implied subject, as leaving the tunnel in The daylight was blinding, leaving the tunnel.

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verb (used with object)

dangled, dangling

1. to cause to dangle; hold or carry swaying loosely.

2. to offer as an inducement.

noun

1. the act of dangling.

2. something that dangles.

idioms

1. keep someone dangling, to keep someone in a state of uncertainty.

dangle British  

/ ˈdæŋɡəl /

verb

1. to hang or cause to hang freely

   his legs dangled over the wall

2. (tr) to display as an enticement

   the hope of a legacy was dangled before her

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noun

1. the act of dangling or something that dangles

Other Word Forms

• dangler noun
• danglingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of dangle

1580–90; expressive word akin to Norwegian, Swedish dangla, Danish dangle dangle

Explanation

Dangle means to hang or swing loosely. If you dangle string above a kitten you will both be entertained. The verb dangle probably comes from a late 16th century Danish or Swedish word meaning “loose or pendulous,” though we don’t know for sure. You may have a taste for big, showy earrings that dangle. Or, you might even dangle a possibility — "If you were to dangle the prospect of dessert to a child, then you better follow through!"

Example Sentences

This may have been the most overt art-as-protest moment, showing dancers climbing sparking electrical poles, only to fall off and dangle by what looked like snipped wires.

From Salon • Feb. 9, 2026

Spaceships dangle from the ceiling via fishing wire.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 3, 2025

They dangle enticing offers: free phone consultations, free information booklets, free sign-ups for free resources.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 28, 2025

Cushioned chairs once used for official functions stand covered with dust, a few paintings still hang on the walls, ragged chandeliers dangle from the ceilings.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2025

Patches of jaundiced skin dangle from his face, and the rest is covered with weeping sores.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

Related Words

• droop
• flap
• hang
• sling
• sway
• swing