caving

American

[key-ving] / ˈkeɪ vɪŋ /

noun

spelunking.

caving British

/ ˈkeɪvɪŋ /

noun

the sport of climbing in and exploring caves

"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

caver noun

Etymology

Origin of caving

First recorded in 1865–70; cave ( def. ) + -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.

History suggests they will hesitate before eventually caving to his will.

From Salon • Jan. 3, 2026

Are we wrong for not caving or catering more to our out-of-town guests?

From MarketWatch • Dec. 26, 2025

You couldn’t be caught caving to an advertiser.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 13, 2025

Meanwhile, at Mayo Clinic, Lily was caving under the pressure she felt to get better.

From Slate • Sep. 15, 2025

I kept seeing that motherhouse up in the mountains, its roof caving in, its walls crumbling like a foolish house built on sand.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez

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