bleeding

American  

[blee-ding] / ˈbli dɪŋ /

noun

1. the act, fact, or process of losing blood or having blood flow.

2. the act or process of drawing blood from a person, especially surgically; bloodletting.

3. the extension of color beyond an edge or border, especially so as to combine with a contiguous color or to affect an adjacent area.

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adjective

1. sending forth blood.

   a bleeding sore.

2. feeling, expressing, or characterized by extreme or excessive anguish and compassion.

3. British Slang. (used as an intensifier).

   bleeding fool.

adverb

1. British Slang. (used as an intensifier).

   a bleeding silly idea.

bleeding British  

/ ˈbliːdɪŋ /

adjective

1. (intensifier)

   a bleeding fool

   it's bleeding beautiful

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Other Word Forms

• nonbleeding adjective
• unbleeding adjective

Etymology

Origin of bleeding

1175–1225; Middle English (noun and adj.); bleed, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

That led Jefferson to decry the practice of bleeding patients to treat illness.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

“Sure, it works. But if you’re going to the emergency room because you’re bleeding, you’re not a shopper,” Perlman said.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026

Common symptoms include pelvic pain, painful periods that interfere with everyday life, heavy menstrual bleeding and pain during or after sex.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

The English king was criticized for spending most of his reign abroad while bleeding the country dry via the Saladin Tithe and plunging its people into poverty.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

Silently, I slipped into bed and wrapped my bleeding finger in the blankets.

From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff

Related Words

• benevolent
• charitable
• humane
• merciful
• sympathetic
• warm
• warmhearted