writing

[ rahy-ting ]

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that writes.
2. written written form:

   to commit one's thoughts to writing.

3. that which is written; written; characters or matter written written with a pen or the like:

   His writing is illegible.

4. such characters or matter with respect to style, kind, quality, etc.
5. an inscription.
6. a letter.
7. any written written or printed paper, as a document or deed.
8. literary or musical style, form, quality, technique, etc.:

   Her writing is stilted.

9. a literary composition or production.
10. the profession of a writer:

    He turned to writing at an early age.

11. the Writings, Hagiographa.

writing

/ ˈraɪtɪŋ /

noun

1. a group of letters or symbols written or marked on a surface as a means of communicating ideas by making each symbol stand for an idea, concept, or thing, by using each symbol to represent a set of sounds grouped into syllables ( syllabic writing ), or by regarding each symbol as corresponding roughly or exactly to each of the sounds in the language ( alphabetic writing ) See also ideogram
2. short for handwriting
3. anything expressed in letters, esp a literary composition
4. the work of a writer
5. literary style, art, or practice
6. written form

   give it to me in writing

7. modifier related to or used in writing

   writing ink

8. writing on the wall
   a sign or signs of approaching disaster

Other Words From

• self-writing adjective
• un·writing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of writing¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English; write + -ing ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of writing¹

sense 8: allusion to Daniel 5:5

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. writing on the wall. handwriting ( def 4 ).

Example Sentences

But former Downing Street adviser Dominic Cummings, who was working in No 10 during the Covid pandemic, criticised the appointment, writing on X: "The Westminster system is totally determined to resist any change."

From BBC

But what was happening psychologically between Lee and Allerton was something I had total access to through the sharpness of Burroughs' writing.

From Salon

They released their fourth studio album shortly after, which Bryar has five song writing credits for.

From BBC

Some 14 years ago, on Dec. 5, 2010, a historian writing for TomDispatch made a prediction that may yet prove prescient.

From Salon

She was told in writing that her application had been successful and her family would receive £100,000 on 7 December.

From BBC

Related Words

• article
• book
• document
• essay
• letter
• literature
• manuscript
• novel
• paper
• piece
• poem
• prose
• publication
• review
• theme
• work