writing

[ rahy-ting ]

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that writes.
2. written written form:

   to commit one's thoughts to writing.

3. that which is written; written; characters or matter written written with a pen or the like:

   His writing is illegible.

4. such characters or matter with respect to style, kind, quality, etc.
5. an inscription.
6. a letter.
7. any written written or printed paper, as a document or deed.
8. literary or musical style, form, quality, technique, etc.:

   Her writing is stilted.

9. a literary composition or production.
10. the profession of a writer:

    He turned to writing at an early age.

11. the Writings, Hagiographa.

writing

/ ˈraɪtɪŋ /

noun

1. See ideogram
   a group of letters or symbols written or marked on a surface as a means of communicating ideas by making each symbol stand for an idea, concept, or thing, by using each symbol to represent a set of sounds grouped into syllables ( syllabic writing ), or by regarding each symbol as corresponding roughly or exactly to each of the sounds in the language ( alphabetic writing ) See also ideogram
2. See handwriting
   short for handwriting
3. anything expressed in letters, esp a literary composition
4. the work of a writer
5. literary style, art, or practice
6. written form

   give it to me in writing

7. modifier related to or used in writing

   writing ink

8. writing on the wall
   writing on the wall a sign or signs of approaching disaster

Other Words From

• self-writing adjective
• un·writing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of writing¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English; write + -ing ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of writing¹

sense 8: allusion to Daniel 5:5

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. writing on the wall. handwriting ( def 4 ).

Example Sentences

At the time of writing, those include California, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, and Michigan.

From Fortune

After many advertisers asked to be let out of their quarterly upfront commitments immediately at the outset of the coronavirus crisis in March, ad buyers now are asking for that option to be put in writing.

From Digiday

Fortune has asked the ministry what enforcement measures there will be, but had not received a reply at the time of writing.

From Fortune

I found that petition writing was part of the complex power politics between the women and the colonial state.

From Quartz

The video had 3,400 YouTube video views at the time of writing.

From Digiday

True, this may not be what James Madison had in mind when he was writing the Bill of Rights.

From The Daily Beast

Both Ney and Abramoff have reentered the public spotlight following their sentences, writing books about their experiences.

From The Daily Beast

I started just writing these songs, at first it felt like a project or something.

From The Daily Beast

I wish I could be writing to you under better circumstances, but unfortunately those avenues have closed up.

From The Daily Beast

Before his writing days, London used the Oakland establishment to conduct his studies.

From The Daily Beast

When he had finished, she took them from his hand, and turning them round in agitated silence, examined their seals and writing.

From Project Gutenberg

What he has done in any one species or distinct kind of writing would have been sufficient to have acquired him a great name.

From Project Gutenberg

“A hopeful family yours, Mr. Trotter,” said Perker, sealing a letter which he had just finished writing.

From Project Gutenberg

Of writing he knew little and the art of composition appeared very difficult.

From Project Gutenberg

So after some weeks of speculation, he bought himself a tablet, some pencils and took up the art of writing.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• article
• book
• document
• essay
• letter
• literature
• manuscript
• novel
• paper
• piece
• poem
• prose
• publication
• review
• theme
• work