modeling

American  

[mod-l-ing] / ˈmɒd l ɪŋ /

especially British, modelling

noun

1. the act, art, or profession of a person who models.

2. the process of producing sculptured form with some plastic material, as clay.

3. the technique of rendering the illusion of volume on a two-dimensional surface by shading.

4. the treatment of volume, as the turning of a form, in sculpture.

5. the representation, often mathematical, of a process, concept, or operation of a system, often implemented by a computer program.

6. Also called imitation.  Psychology. therapy in which a particular behavior is elicited by the observation of similar behavior in others.

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Etymology

Origin of modeling

First recorded in 1575–85; model + -ing ¹

Explanation

Modeling involves making a representation of something. Creating a tiny, functioning volcano is an example of modeling. Teachers use modeling when they have a class election that represents a larger one, like a presidential election. Modeling is anything that represents something else, usually on a smaller scale. Military commanders use physical and computer modeling to plan offensives. Modeling is helpful because it allows you to take a good look at something that is too big or impractical to see otherwise. If a tall beautiful person tells you he has a modeling career, he’s not a miniature version of something, but he does make money being a model. Outside the US, it’s often spelled with two l’s.

Example Sentences

If the Saskatchewan sale is recognized in the period, it would mean an additional $900,000 in revenue on top of the $5.2 million Rosenblatt is modeling, or the $4 million forecast by the Street.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

Kohl’s put together an Instagram post of photos of Kelly modeling its Sonoma brand shirts, which were shot in 2025 for its website.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

Using extensive modeling, Walton and his co-authors found that both phosphorus and nitrogen remain in the mantle in large enough amounts only within a very narrow range of moderate oxygen conditions.

From Science Daily • Apr. 6, 2026

Adjusted earnings per share for the latest quarter slipped to $1.53 from $1.58, while analysts were modeling for a jump to $2.20.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

Its devices typically were more sophisticated and complicated than those of Los Alamos, and therefore harder to perfect via theoretical modeling rather than testing.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• design
• painting