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

AFP journalists saw devotees deliberately puncturing their skin with glass shards attached to a small wooden paddle to ensure their bleeding during the ritual, a way to atone for sins and seek miracles from God.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 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

“You are bleeding expected points just to chase a Cinderella,” Gemini warned.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

But conjure one in your mind’s eye and I suspect we’re seeing the same thing: slumped berries bleeding into pale yogurt.

From Salon • Mar. 17, 2026

The bleeding had stopped, but it was already getting big.

From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña

Related Words

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