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Synonyms

ironing

American  
[ahy-er-ning] / ˈaɪ ər nɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act or process of smoothing or pressing clothes, linens, etc., with a heated iron.

  2. articles of clothing or the like that have been or are to be ironed.

ironing British  
/ ˈaɪənɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act of ironing washed clothes

  2. clothes that are to be or that have been ironed

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of ironing

First recorded in 1700–10; iron + -ing 1

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.

The house was unlocked, the ironing board was out, the hoover plugged in, washing was hanging on the line outside, the medication she needed for Crohn's disease had been left behind.

From BBC • Feb. 23, 2026

“We’re ironing out the last details of what we need to do for her,” said Scott, 57.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 10, 2026

The administration is still ironing out the details, Hassett noted in the interview on Fox Business Network’s Mornings With Maria.

From Barron's • Jan. 16, 2026

Smith’s mother was a waitress who also took in ironing.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 31, 2025

She might be mending or ironing but most likely she’d be sitting by the window embroidering.

From "Homesick" by Jean Fritz

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.