Meaning & Definition of word "Dangling"

Dangling

/ˈdæŋɡlɪŋ/

1. Present participle of dangle.
- Example: The children were dangling their feet over the edge of the dock.
2. To hang or swing loosely.
- Example: The keys were dangling from her fingers.
3. To remain undecided or unresolved.
- Example: There was a dangling question about the project's future.

1. Hanging or swinging loosely.
- Example: He wore a necklace with a dangling charm.
2. Referring to a grammatical construction that lacks a clear subject.
- Example: The sentence contained a dangling participle that confused the reader.

●From Middle English 'danglen', perhaps a frequentative of 'dang' meaning to hang.

dangling participle:

A grammatical construct where the participle is not properly connected to its subject, often leading to awkward or ambiguous sentences.

dangling chad:

A term used in elections referring to a ballot that is only partially punched, hanging from the ballot card.

dangle:

To hang or swing loosely.

dangling modifier:

A word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence.

Meaning: Dangling something as a tease or to entice.

● Example Sentence: He kept dangling the prospect of a promotion in front of her.

Meaning: Used informally in dating contexts to refer to someone who is leading another on.

● Example Sentence: Stop dangling him; if you're not interested, let him know.