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

The parking lots open at 11 a.m. daily and the gates open around 1.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

After most appointments, my mom would pull her van into the Starbucks parking lot in the shopping center next door.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

Hartsfield-Jackson offers TSA officers two meal vouchers per shift and pays for their parking.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

For example, I recently got free tickets to a basketball game but still ended up spending about $50 on parking and another $100 on food and drinks.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026

We roll out of the empty parking lot.

From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko

Related Words

• embracing