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.); see bleed, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

California’s economy reached a record $4.25 trillion last year, despite claims that the state is bleeding business.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2026

This is bleeding into sectors across the economy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

Clearing the uterus is standard care to stop hemorrhaging; misoprostol would only make the bleeding worse, they said.

From Salon • Apr. 20, 2026

But the deregulation they won did little to stanch the bleeding.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

A clean rag tied tightly seemed to stanch the bleeding.

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson

Related Words

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