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Synonyms

angling

American  
[ang-gling] / ˈæŋ glɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act or art of fishing with a hook and line, usually attached to a rod.

angling British  
/ ˈæŋɡlɪŋ /

noun

    1. the art or sport of catching fish with a rod and line and a baited hook or other lure, such as a fly; fishing

    2. ( as modifier )

      an angling contest
"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

  • nonangling adjective

Etymology

Origin of angling

First recorded in 1490–1500; angle 2 + -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.

The U.S. has come up with a 15-point peace plan, with Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan as mediators angling for a U.S.-Iran meeting in the next 48 hours, according to reports.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026

All three are angling to add to their trophy cabinets by taking home the gala's most coveted award, Album of the Year, for the first time.

From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026

Oracle, which is angling to be the go-to computing provider for labs like OpenAI, is by far the most indebted tech giant in the mix.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 17, 2025

Hasen believes that this is the agency taking a cautious step back, moving away from literal enforcement but still angling to send a message.

From Slate • Oct. 31, 2025

He pulled on a T-shirt and sat down, angling his screen to see her better.

From "Pet" by Akwaeke Emezi

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.