Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

pairing

American  
[pair-ing] / ˈpɛər ɪŋ /

noun

  1. a coupling.

  2. Cell Biology. the lining up of the two homologous chromosomes or chromatids of each chromosome pair in meiosis or mitosis.

Etymology

Origin of pairing

First recorded in 1605–15; pair + -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 researchers wanted to see whether pairing these compounds could reduce inflammatory signals more effectively than using them individually.

From Science Daily • Apr. 9, 2026

Borgli digs deep into Emma’s psyche, pairing explanations from current-day Emma with glimpses of her younger self, wonderfully realized by Jordyn Curet.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

Yet Marseille's midfield pairing - usually Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Geoffrey Kondogbia - lacked the technical skills and mobility to perform in that system against stronger opposition.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

She and the amazingly talented Logan Lerman are a magical pairing.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

Once again, the pairing of bases is used to build the gene back.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

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.