hoarding

¹ American  

[hawr-ding] / ˈhɔr dɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or animal that hoards.

   Depression-era hoarding, when gold coins disappeared from circulation;

   the hoarding of nuts by chipmunks.

2. hoardings, things that are hoarded.

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hoarding ² American  

[hawr-ding, hohr-] / ˈhɔr dɪŋ, ˈhoʊr- /

noun

1. a temporary fence enclosing a construction site.

2. British. a billboard.

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hoarding British  

/ ˈhɔːdɪŋ /

noun

1. Also called (esp US and Canadian): billboard.  a large board used for displaying advertising posters, as by a road

2. a temporary wooden fence erected round a building or demolition site

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Etymology

Origin of hoarding¹

First recorded in 1585–95; hoard + -ing ¹

Origin of hoarding²

First recorded in 1815–25; obsolete hoard (from Old French hourd(e) “palisade made of hurdles,” from Germanic; compare German Hürde “hurdle”) + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

This pivotal moment that’s had them hoarding assets and fencing off their financial flexibility.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

But when they walked past on Tuesday, the once colourful store was covered in hoarding after all shops closed.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

Fuel-importing countries are already shortening workweeks, cutting output, and hoarding commodities.

From Barron's • Apr. 27, 2026

“They have been hoarding and they have cut off exports of many products,” Bessent said.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

The boy's hand hovered over a button, and his lips bore a cheeky Mona Lisa smile, as if he were hoarding all the secrets of the universe and would never share.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson

Related Words

• accretion
• aggregation
• buildup
• growth
• inflation
• pile
• quantity