sparring

American  

[spahr-ing] / ˈspɑr ɪŋ /

noun

• sparrings
  plural

1. the act or process of boxing with light blows, or of training by practicing the motions of attack and defense.

   I’m heading to the boxing gym to get in some sparring.

   Wu shu as a sport takes mainly two forms: the dancelike practice of the routine exercise, and the sparring in duels.

2. the act or process of disputing or bandying words.

   After some final sparring between opposing counsel, the prosecution made its closing argument.

3. the act of striking or attacking with the feet or spurs, as fighting roosters do.

   To prevent injury during sparring, they even put foam rubber covers on the spurs of their gamecocks.

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adjective

1. boxing with light blows, or practicing boxing motions of attack and defense.

   The place was packed with spectators cheering for the sparring boxers in the ring.

2. disputing or bandying words.

   The crew is a mix of personalities, from the friendly pilot to the constantly sparring pair of engineers who keep the ship running.

3. striking or attacking with the feet or spurs, as gamecocks do.

   This vintage table decoration features a pair of sparring roosters made of polished metal.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• sparrings
  plural

Etymology

Origin of sparring

First recorded in 1625–35; spar ² ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun senses; spar ² ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sparring sparrings

It would be unfair not to credit Benn's in-ring evolution, going from a raw novice who used to take beatings in sparring to becoming one of British boxing's most recognisable fighters.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

The crowd had made its allegiances clear after a fiery build-up which included Itauma shoving Hrgovic, the Zagreb man slapping him back and plenty of verbal sparring.

From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026

Eugène Ionesco’s play, currently running at American Repertory Theater, has the two actors sparring over ideas of alienation and belonging amid the outbreak of a metamorphic disorder.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

According to ABC 7, a couple spotted Jackie sparring with two younger eagles on the lake shore last Friday.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

"You know the rules, boy. No sparring unless the boss or me is watching. He's not here, and I ain't got time."

From "The Contender" by Robert Lipsyte

Instead of the sparrings playing against the first team, for example, Sampaoli has introduced a mixed set of training sessions, where under-20s and first team train together.

From The Guardian ● Nov. 11, 2017

These gentlemen had had some sparrings in debate before, and continued ever very hostile to each other.

From Memoir, Correspondence, And Miscellanies, From The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 1 by Thomas Jefferson Randolph

In spite of sundry little sparrings, Johnson fully appreciated Goldsmith's genius.

From Samuel Johnson by Sir Leslie Stephen