designing

[ dih-zahy-ning ]

/ dɪˈzaɪ nɪŋ /

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adjective

scheming; intriguing; artful; crafty.

showing or using forethought.

noun

the act or art of making designs.

Nearby words

Origin of designing

First recorded in 1610–20; design + -ing², -ing¹

SYNONYMS FOR designing

1 wily, cunning, tricky, sly.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR designing ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsde·sign·ing·ly, adverbwell-de·sign·ing, adjective

Definition for designing (2 of 2)

design

[ dih-zahyn ]

/ dɪˈzaɪn /

verb (used with object)

to prepare the preliminary sketch or the plans for (a work to be executed), especially to plan the form and structure of: to design a new bridge.

to plan and fashion artistically or skillfully.

to intend for a definite purpose: a scholarship designed for foreign students.

to form or conceive in the mind; contrive; plan: The prisoner designed an intricate escape.

to assign in thought or intention; purpose: He designed to be a doctor.

Obsolete. to mark out, as by a sign; indicate.

verb (used without object)

to make drawings, preliminary sketches, or plans.

to plan and fashion the form and structure of an object, work of art, decorative scheme, etc.

noun

an outline, sketch, or plan, as of the form and structure of a work of art, an edifice, or a machine to be executed or constructed.

organization or structure of formal elements in a work of art; composition.

the combination of details or features of a picture, building, etc.; the pattern or motif of artistic work: the design on a bracelet.

the art of designing: a school of design.

a plan or project: a design for a new process.

a plot or intrigue, especially an underhand, deceitful, or treacherous one: His political rivals formulated a design to unseat him.

designs, a hostile or aggressive project or scheme having evil or selfish motives: He had designs on his partner's stock.

intention; purpose; end.

adaptation of means to a preconceived end.

Origin of design

1350–1400; Middle English designen < Latin dēsignāre to mark out. See de-, sign

Related forms

out·de·sign, verb (used with object)o·ver·de·sign, verbpre·de·sign, verb (used with object)re·de·sign, verb

self-de·sign, nounun·der·de·sign, verb (used with object)

Synonym study

5. See intend. 13. See plan.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for designing

And in 1939, the MOMA building opened that he was instrumental in designing and building.
This Republican Loved Taxes & Modern Art|Scott Porch|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He had been designing the outfits for the Paris-based company while they were performing in Rome.
Revealing The Unseen Picasso|Justin Jones|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The challenge is designing tools to help make that happen.
4 Science-Backed Ways to Motivate Yourself to Work Out|DailyBurn|September 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The money they spent on researching, designing, and marketing their goods is lost to a cheaper knockoff.
Museum of Fakes for a City of Fakes|William O’Connor|June 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The Memphis-based CEO has been designing and creating his own collection ever since.
Which Preteen Fashion Blogger Will Be Tavi 2.0?|Justin Jones|June 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But designing a machine to handle the planets and the sun, while a lot simpler, was still a complex problem.
The Sky Is Falling|Lester del Rey
This is surprising after what he says of the methods of designing stirrups.
Some Mooted Questions in Reinforced Concrete Design|Edward Godfrey
This again suggests 'design' and a designing 'force,' which we do not find in the realm of physics.
Science and Morals and Other Essays|Bertram Coghill Alan Windle
In the story of the designing and building of the model house reference was made to contributions from the forge shop.
The Library of Work and Play: Home Decoration|Charles Franklin Warner
Beware of ignorance which assumes the mask of knowledge, or of designing roguery which apes the appearance of innocence.
Violins and Violin Makers|Joseph Pearce

British Dictionary definitions for designing (1 of 2)

designing

/ (dɪˈzaɪnɪŋ) /

adjective

artful and scheming; conniving; crafty

Derived Formsdesigningly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for designing (2 of 2)

design

/ (dɪˈzaɪn) /

verb

to work out the structure or form of (something), as by making a sketch, outline, pattern, or plans

to plan and make (something) artistically or skilfully

(tr) to form or conceive in the mind; invent

(tr) to intend, as for a specific purpose; plan

(tr) obsolete to mark out or designate

noun

a plan, sketch, or preliminary drawing

the arrangement or pattern of elements or features of an artistic or decorative workthe design of the desk is Chippendale

a finished artistic or decorative creation

the art of designing

a plan, scheme, or project

an end aimed at or planned for; intention; purpose

(often plural; often foll by on or against) a plot or hostile scheme, often to gain possession of (something) by illegitimate means

a coherent or purposeful pattern, as opposed to chaosGod's design appears in nature

argument from design philosophy another name for teleological argument

Derived Formsdesignable, adjective

Word Origin for design

C16: from Latin dēsignāre to mark out, describe, from de- + signāre to mark, from signum a mark, sign

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

Word Origin and History for designing (1 of 3)

designing

adj.

"scheming," 1670s, present participle adjective from design (v.).

Word Origin and History for designing (1 of 3)

design

1580s, from Middle French desseign "purpose, project, design," from Italian disegno, from disegnare "to mark out," from Latin designare "to mark out" (see design (v.)).

Word Origin and History for designing (2 of 3)

design

1540s, from Latin designare "mark out, devise, choose, designate, appoint," from de- "out" (see de-) + signare "to mark," from signum "a mark, sign" (see sign (n.)). Originally in English with the meaning now attached to designate; many modern uses of design are metaphoric extensions. Related: Designed; designing.

Idioms and Phrases with designing

design

see by design; have designs on.

designing

adjective

noun

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of designing

Definition for designing (2 of 2)

design

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Origin of design

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for designing

British Dictionary definitions for designing (1 of 2)

designing

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for designing (2 of 2)

design

verb

noun

Word Origin for design

Word Origin and History for designing (1 of 3)

designing

Word Origin and History for designing (1 of 3)

design

Word Origin and History for designing (2 of 3)

design

Idioms and Phrases with designing

design