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Synonyms

railing

American  
[rey-ling] / ˈreɪ lɪŋ /

noun

  • railings
    plural
  1. a fencelike barrier composed of one or more horizontal rails supported by widely spaced uprights; balustrade.

  2. banister.

  3. rails collectively.


railing British  
/ ˈreɪlɪŋ /

noun

  1. (often plural) a fence, balustrade, or barrier that consists of rails supported by posts

  2. rails collectively or material for making rails

"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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of railing

First recorded in 1350–1400; rail 1 + -ing 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

His attorneys said the blast melted decorative lighting on his balcony, charred the railing and melted sections of artificial turf.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 6, 2026

His teammates flocked to him, reaching over the railing for high-fives.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 20, 2026

Otherwise you’re just railing in impotent fury at the companies frying the planet.

From MarketWatch Jul. 17, 2026

Others have also protested, including more than a thousand actors and producers who signed an open letter in April railing against the merger.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 14, 2026

Miss Genovese slumps against the railing, grounding the heel of her hand against her forehead and squeezing her eyes shut.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

The singer put his own touch on the home, replacing the iron railings and adding a dance studio to the property.

From MarketWatch Aug. 18, 2026

Flags draped over the railings, while one striking banner portrayed Messi alongside Diego Maradona as saint-like figures, reflecting the status which so many supporters regard their greatest footballing icons.

From BBC Jul. 4, 2026

Supporters scaled railings and sat on the top of bus shelters as their struggling side arrived to face relegation rivals Nottingham Forest.

From BBC Mar. 22, 2026

It’s where, in the early 1990s, the activity evolved out of skate parks and empty swimming pools into a global urban phenomenon that could be done nearly anywhere there were benches, stairs and railings.

From The Wall Street Journal Jan. 7, 2026

Shiny gold railings surround the front half of the deck.

From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston

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