parking

American  

[par-king] / ˈpær kɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that parks, especially a vehicle.

2. space in which to park vehicles, as at a place of business or a public event.

   There's plenty of free parking at the stadium.

3. permission to park vehicles.

   Is there parking on this side of the street?

4. the activity or occupation of a person who operates or works in a parking lot, garage, or the like.

5. parking strip.

6. Informal. the act of kissing and caressing in a parked car.

   Some of the couples went parking on their way home from the dance.

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adjective

1. of, pertaining to, used for, or engaged in parking, especially of vehicles.

   parking regulations; a parking ticket; a parking space; a parking attendant.

Other Word Forms

• unparking
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of parking

First recorded in 1520–30; park + -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

He and another victim, Nadir Awad, had run toward the mosque and were on the phone, hiding behind cars in the parking lot, trying to reach out to police.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

Awad and another man -- named as Mansour Kaziha -- drew the gunmen back into the parking lot.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

At the Martinez, Cottray said that the hotel was coordinating accommodations for the crew, cars and parking, food and beverage needs and other infrastructure over the course of a long shoot.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

At that time, on-street parking fees in Llandudno and Colwyn Bay were £5.50 for four hours, and £4 for four hours in Rhyl.

From BBC • May 18, 2026

I type “used car parking lots, New York State.”

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

Related Words

• embracing