billing

[ bil-ing ]

noun

1. the relative position in which a performer or act is listed on handbills, posters, etc.:

   A star usually receives billing above the title of the play.

2. advertising; publicity:

   The show was a sellout weeks ahead of the opening because of advance billing.

3. the amount of business done by a firm, especially an advertising agency, within a specified period of time.
4. an act or instance of preparing or sending out a bill or invoice.
5. the total amount of the cost of goods or services billed bill billed to a customer, usually covering purchases made or services rendered within a specified period of time.

billing

/ ˈbɪlɪŋ /

noun

1. theatre the relative importance of a performer or act as reflected in the prominence given in programmes, advertisements, etc
2. public notice or advertising (esp in the phrase advance billing )

Word History and Origins

Origin of billing¹

First recorded in 1870–75; bill ¹ + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Lloyd, a British theater director with continental European ways, receives prominent billing onstage as the production’s credits roll as they would for a movie.

From Los Angeles Times

A defense that was supposed to be the Bruins’ strength did not live up to its billing.

From Los Angeles Times

He will be top billing at the party’s Welsh conference in Newport on Friday, just a day after flying home from the United States having supported Donald Trump’s successful presidential campaign.

From BBC

Trump’s campaign is billing the appearance as a marquee event in the closing days of the campaign.

From Los Angeles Times

Sewage discharges may have some external causes but effective monitoring, reporting, rising gripes about complaints handling and billing errors are hard bucks to pass.

From BBC

Related Words

• attention
• clout
• commercial
• distribution
• fame
• hoopla
• hype
• noise
• notoriety
• propaganda