-ing
1a suffix of nouns formed from verbs, expressing the action of the verb or its result, product, material, etc. (the art of building; a new building; cotton wadding). It is also used to form nouns from words other than verbs (offing; shirting). Verbal nouns ending in -ing are often used attributively (the printing trade) and in forming compounds (drinking song). In some compounds (sewing machine), the first element might reasonably be regarded as the participial adjective, -ing2, the compound thus meaning “a machine that sews,” but it is commonly taken as a verbal noun, the compound being explained as “a machine for sewing.”
QUIZZES
CAN YOU GUESS THESE WORDS FROM AROUND THE US?
American English is not always as it appears to be ... get to know regional words in this quiz!
Question 1 of 10
A bet is synonymous with a wager, but what does it mean in New York?
Compare -ing2.
Origin of -ing
1Middle English; Old English -ing, -ung
Words nearby -ing
Infusoria, infusorial, infusorial earth, infusorian, in futuro, -ing, ingate, ingather, ingathering, Inge, Ingelow
Definition for -ing (2 of 3)
-ing2
a suffix forming the present participle of verbs (walking; thinking), such participles being often used as participial adjectives: warring factions.
Compare -ing1.
Origin of -ing
2Middle English -ing, -inge; the variant -in (usually represented in spelling as -inʾ) continues Middle English -inde, -ende,Old English -ende
pronunciation note for -ing
The common suffix -ing2 can be pronounced in modern English as either [‐ing] /‐ɪŋ/ or [‐in], /‐ɪn/, with either the velar nasal consonant [ng], /ŋ/, symbolized in IPA as [ŋ], or the alveolar nasal consonant [n], /n/, symbolized in IPA as [n]. The [‐in] /‐ɪn/ pronunciation therefore reflects the use of one nasal as against another and not, as is popularly supposed, “dropping the g, ” since no actual g -sound is involved.
Many speakers use both pronunciations, depending on the speed of utterance and the relative formality of the occasion, with [‐ing] /‐ɪŋ/ considered the more formal variant. For some educated speakers, especially in the southern United States and Britain, [‐in] /‐ɪn/ is in fact the more common pronunciation, while for other educated speakers, [‐ing] /‐ɪŋ/ is common in virtually all circumstances. In response to correction from perceived authorities, many American speakers who would ordinarily use [‐in] /‐ɪn/ at least some of the time make a conscious effort to say [‐ing], /‐ɪŋ/, even in informal circumstances.
Many speakers use both pronunciations, depending on the speed of utterance and the relative formality of the occasion, with [‐ing] /‐ɪŋ/ considered the more formal variant. For some educated speakers, especially in the southern United States and Britain, [‐in] /‐ɪn/ is in fact the more common pronunciation, while for other educated speakers, [‐ing] /‐ɪŋ/ is common in virtually all circumstances. In response to correction from perceived authorities, many American speakers who would ordinarily use [‐in] /‐ɪn/ at least some of the time make a conscious effort to say [‐ing], /‐ɪŋ/, even in informal circumstances.
Definition for -ing (3 of 3)
-ing3
a native English suffix meaning “one belonging to,” “of the kind of,” “one descended from,” and sometimes having a diminutive force, formerly used in the formation of nouns: farthing; shilling; bunting; gelding; whiting.
Compare -ling1.
Origin of -ing
3Middle English, Old English -ing, cognate with Old Norse -ingr, -ungr,Gothic -ings
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
British Dictionary definitions for -ing (1 of 3)
-ing1
suffix forming nouns
(from verbs) the action of, process of, result of, or something connected with the verbcoming; meeting; a wedding; winnings
(from other nouns) something used in, consisting of, involving, etctubing; soldiering
(from other parts of speech)an outing
Word Origin for -ing
Old English -ing, -ung
British Dictionary definitions for -ing (2 of 3)
-ing2
suffix
forming the present participle of verbswalking; believing
forming participial adjectivesa growing boy; a sinking ship
forming adjectives not derived from verbsswashbuckling
Word Origin for -ing
Middle English -ing, -inde, from Old English -ende
British Dictionary definitions for -ing (3 of 3)
-ing3
suffix forming nouns
a person or thing having a certain quality or being of a certain kindsweeting; whiting
Word Origin for -ing
Old English -ing; related to Old Norse -ingr
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012