Home US English -ing

Main definitions of -ing in English

: -ing1-ing2-ing3

-ing1

suffix

  • 1Denoting a verbal action, an instance of this, or its result.

    ‘fighting’
    • ‘outing’
    • ‘building’
    1. 1.1Denoting a verbal action relating to an occupation, skill, etc.
      ‘banking’
      • ‘ice skating’
      • ‘welding’

  • 2Denoting material used for or associated with a process etc.

    ‘cladding’
    • ‘piping’
    1. 2.1Denoting something involved in an action or process but with no corresponding verb.
      • ‘scaffolding’

  • 3Forming the gerund of verbs (such as painting as in I love painting).

Pronunciation

-ing

/iNG/ /ɪŋ/

Origin

Old English -ung, -ing, of Germanic origin.

Main definitions of -ing in English

: -ing1-ing2-ing3

-ing2

suffix

  • 1Forming the present participle of verbs.

    ‘doing’
    • ‘calling’
    1. 1.1Forming present participles used as adjectives.
      • ‘charming’

  • 2Forming adjectives from nouns.

    • ‘hulking’

Pronunciation

-ing

/ɪŋ/ /iNG/

Origin

Middle English alteration of earlier -ende, later -inde.

Main definitions of -ing in English

: -ing1-ing2-ing3

-ing3

suffix

  • (used especially in names of coins and fractional parts) a thing belonging to or having the quality of.

    ‘farthing’
    • ‘riding’

Pronunciation

-ing

/ɪŋ/ /iNG/

Origin

Old English, of Germanic origin.