pairing
Americannoun
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a coupling.
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Cell Biology. the lining up of the two homologous chromosomes or chromatids of each chromosome pair in meiosis or mitosis.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of pairing
Explanation
A pairing is a match between two things or people, like the perfect pairing of chocolate and peanut butter. Use this noun for two folks who work together as a perfect unit, like the pairing of your baseball team's pitcher and catcher, or two things that seem made for each other, like the classic pairing of grilled cheese and tomato soup. You can also describe the act of sorting people into pairs this way: "Our family's secret Santa pairing meant that I had to buy a gift for my great uncle again."
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.
They aren’t the only ones in this market, but it’s a major pairing of some of the biggest home-energy companies.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 25, 2026
Evidence suggests that pairing GLP-1 medications with endoscopic procedures or bariatric surgery could lead to greater weight loss and longer-lasting results than either approach alone.
From Science Daily • Jun. 20, 2026
That’s a rage-inducing reality for many, if not most of us, for whom pairing a full tank of gas with a restaurant dinner seems like careless luxury these days.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 14, 2026
Indeed, if that is the case, it appears that John Stones and Ezri Konsa will start the World Cup as England's first-choice central defensive pairing.
From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026
Many would later liken the pairing of Morrow and Halliday to that of Jobs and Wozniak or Lennon and McCartney.
From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline
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.
