[Vocabulary] hang around vs hang out

[BallsOfSteel]

Hello good people,

...and not so good ones (in case there are any

Can someone provide me with context where one clearly sees the difference between "hang out" and "hang around" if there is any? Since in all dictionaries their meanings "stay somewhere (with someone) for some time for no serious reason" usually overlap. Are there any cases where they cannot be interchangeable?

By the way, are there any other similar colloquial (not rude) verbs/prases used in the US to represent the same idea?

 

[probus]

To hang around means to stay somewhere, but there is a possibility of negative connotations. There may be people who are not pleased that you are hanging around. This is not necessarily the case, only possible.

To hang out, in current usage, has only positive connotations. No matter who you are hanging out with, they are glad that you are hanging out with them. BTW you can also just say "hang" instead of "hang out."

 

[MikeNewYork]

One can hang around with a person, but it usually is used for hanging around a place: a bar, a park, a street corner, etc.

These days people hang out with each other.