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networking

American  
[net-wur-king] / ˈnɛtˌwɜr kɪŋ /

noun

  1. a supportive system of sharing information and services among individuals and groups having a common interest.

    Working mothers in the community use networking to help themselves manage successfully.

  2. Digital Technology. the design, establishment, or utilization of a computer network.

adjective

  1. of or relating to a network or networking: a networking brunch.

    networking software;

    a networking brunch.
networking British  
/ ˈnɛtˌwɜːkɪŋ /

noun

  1. computing the interconnection of two or more networks in different places, as in working at home with a link to a central computer in an office

  2. forming business connections and contacts through informal social meetings

"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

adjective

  1. of or for networking

    networking systems
"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

Etymology

Origin of networking

First recorded in 1935–40; network + -ing 1

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.

The market for optical ports, which connect fiber-optic cables to networking hardware in data centers, is expected to double this year, then double again in 2027, Barclays analyst Tom O’Malley said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

The companies will work together on the development of Google’s tensor processing units through 2031, and Broadcom will supply networking and other components for Google AI racks over that multiyear span.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

The new agreement firms up the relationship through 2031, and also assures that Broadcom’s networking equipment will also be part of TPU deployment in data centers.

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

Faye Dicker founded a women's networking group called Freelance Mums in 2013, designed for mothers who run their own businesses or work remotely.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

I had friends from Sidley, friends from high school, friends developed through professional networking, and friends I’d met through Craig, who was newly married and making his living as an investment banker in town.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

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.