- present participle of choke.
choking
Americanadjective
-
(of the voice) husky and strained, especially because of emotion.
-
causing the feeling of being choked.
a choking cloud of smoke.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of choking
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.
But between parasitic infections and the wildfire smoke that’s currently choking U.S. cities, maybe you’d prefer to spend much of this weekend inside.
From Slate ● Jul. 17, 2026
I have to make sure they're not choking... because this disease has affected their muscles with their swallowing.
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026
Workers sweated in choking heat and pupils stayed home on Tuesday as an early-summer heatwave smothered much of Europe, sparking health warnings.
From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026
The regulated toxic substance is corrosive to the skin, eyes and lungs, and high levels of exposure can lead to choking, burns and death, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026
Instead I coughed, trying to get the smoke choking me to come out.
From "Root Magic" by Eden Royce
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.
