computing

American  

[kuhm-pyoo-ting] / kəmˈpyu tɪŋ /

noun

1. the use of a computer to process data or perform calculations.

2. the act of calculating or reckoning.

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computing British  

/ kəmˈpjuːtɪŋ /

noun

1. the activity of using computers and writing programs for them

2. the study of computers and their implications

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adjective

1. of or relating to computers

   computing skills

Etymology

Origin of computing

First recorded in 1640–50; compute + -ing ¹

Explanation

Computing is the act of calculating something––adding it up, multiplying it, or doing more complex math functions to it. Computers are named for this process, because they can compute faster than most people. The verb compute comes from a Latin word for pruning. You can think of it like cleaning up piles of data to get a clear result. If you run a shop and have lots of figures, for items sold and returned, and money paid for salaries and overhead, then you'll have to do some computing to know how much money you actually earned that day. It's also a type of engineering.

Example Sentences

He noted that progress in AI, computing, and open collaborative science is making this kind of research increasingly possible.

From Science Daily • Jun. 10, 2026

As the AI boom accelerated and computing shortages worsened, exacerbated by bottlenecks in everything from power supply to memory-chip production, TensorWave expanded rapidly.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

Ultimately, Quantinuum’s choppy debut underscores a deeper, persistent truth in quantum computing.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

These features are only available for limited usage on current iPhones due to computing constraints, which will provide Apple with a powerful new monetization lever.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

Besides, Jesse had absolute confidence in his computing skills, in his technology.

From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz

Related Words

• bookkeeping