killing

American  

[kil-ing] / ˈkɪl ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that kills.

2. the total game killed on a hunt.

3. 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.

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adjective

1. fatal; deadly.

   Tuberculosis was a killing disease well into the 20th century, and society found itself with few remedies.

2. exhausting.

   An ever-expanding workload is imperceptible at first, but eventually we're operating at a killing pace.

3. Informal. irresistibly funny.

4. Slang. very attractive or fascinating.

   The actress is known for her outstanding beauty and killing smile.

killing British  

/ ˈkɪlɪŋ /

adjective

1. informal very tiring; exhausting

   a killing pace

2. informal extremely funny; hilarious

3. causing death; fatal

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noun

1. the act of causing death; slaying

2. 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

• killingly adverb
• self-killing adjective
• unkilling adjective

Etymology

Origin of killing

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English killing(e), kyllyng(e) (gerund); kill ¹, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

Of course, he said, victory meant restoring normal lives for Ukrainians and ending the killing.

From BBC

But both AI boosterism and backlash about AI killing jobs are whipping up public hysteria.

From The Wall Street Journal

On Friday, Sarah Rogers, the State Department under secretary for public diplomacy, said Deranque's killing showed "why we treat political violence -- terrorism -- so harshly".

From Barron's

Kumar said he wanted to see changes in the mental health system to prevent future killings.

From BBC

Odeh's widow and daughter also speak movingly about the killing's impact on their lives.

From Barron's

Related Words

• assassination
• bloodshed
• carnage
• homicide
• manslaughter
• massacre
• slaughter
• slaying