killing
Americannoun
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the act of a person or thing that kills.
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the total game killed on a hunt.
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Informal. a quick and unusually large profit or financial gain.
We would all like to win the lottery or make a killing in the stock market.
adjective
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Tuberculosis was a killing disease well into the 20th century, and society found itself with few remedies.
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exhausting.
An ever-expanding workload is imperceptible at first, but eventually we're operating at a killing pace.
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Informal. irresistibly funny.
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Slang. very attractive or fascinating.
The actress is known for her outstanding beauty and killing smile.
adjective
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informal very tiring; exhausting
a killing pace
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informal extremely funny; hilarious
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causing death; fatal
noun
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the act of causing death; slaying
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informal a sudden stroke of success, usually financial, as in speculations on the stock market (esp in the phrase make a killing )
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of killing
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English killing(e), kyllyng(e) (gerund); see kill 1, -ing 1, -ing 2
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.
See Examples For:
So far, there’s little evidence it’s killing lots of jobs, something some leading technologists had warned.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
Her family has confirmed that Minneapolis authorities were finally granted access this month to the evidence in her killing, which will allow them to conduct a proper investigation.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
Afonydd Cymru, which represents Wales' rivers trusts, said low river flows were causing "significant problems", killing fish and other wildlife, while farming unions warned of failing crops and heat-stressed livestock.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
A. Dirk Moses, the journal’s senior editor since 2011, argues it is useless to distinguish intentional killing of civilians from collateral damage caused by strikes against terrorists.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
She just couldn’t bear the thought of killing something.
From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller
In the killings that occurred between January and June 26, only 16 indictments were filed, amounting to just 12.3 percent of cases, according to the Abraham Initiatives.
From Barron's ● Jul. 5, 2026
Samuel said he had ordered the police to investigate the killings, while Feven called for the authorities to take swift action.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
For context, Minnesota has requested access to information regarding the killings of Good and Pretti but has not filed charges against the officers who killed them yet.
From Salon ● Jun. 23, 2026
The ruling means the woman will not stand trial for the killings and will be sent to a state mental institution rather than prison.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026
“I grieve to hear this. All the more reason to free the noble Hizdahr zo Loraq, who stopped such killings once.”
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
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.
