-ing

¹

1. a suffix of nouns formed from verbs, expressing the action of the verb or its result, product, material, etc. (the art of building; a new building; cotton wadding ). It is also used to form nouns from words other than verbs (offing; shirting ). Verbal nouns ending in -ing are often used attributively (the printing trade ) and in forming compounds (drinking song ). In some compounds (sewing machine ), the first element might reasonably be regarded as the participial adjective, -ing2, the compound thus meaning “a machine that sews,” but it is commonly taken as a verbal noun, the compound being explained as “a machine for sewing.”

-ing

²

1. a suffix forming the present participle of verbs (walking; thinking ), such participles being often used as participial adjectives: warring factions.

-ing

³

1. a native English suffix meaning “one belonging to,” “of the kind of,” “one descended from,” and sometimes having a diminutive force, formerly used in the formation of nouns: farthing; shilling; bunting; gelding; whiting.

-ing

¹

suffix

1. (from verbs) the action of, process of, result of, or something connected with the verb

   coming

   meeting

   a wedding

   winnings

2. (from other nouns) something used in, consisting of, involving, etc

   tubing

   soldiering

3. ( from other parts of speech )

   an outing

-ing

²

suffix

1. forming the present participle of verbs

   walking

   believing

2. forming participial adjectives

   a growing boy

   a sinking ship

3. forming adjectives not derived from verbs

   swashbuckling

-ing

³

suffix

1. a person or thing having a certain quality or being of a certain kind

   sweeting

   whiting

Pronunciation Note

The common suffix -ing2 can be pronounced in modern English as either or , with either the velar nasal consonant , symbolized in IPA as [ŋ], or the alveolar nasal consonant , symbolized in IPA as [n]. The pronunciation therefore reflects the use of one nasal as against another and not, as is popularly supposed, “dropping the g, ” since no actual g -sound is involved. Many speakers use both pronunciations, depending on the speed of utterance and the relative formality of the occasion, with considered the more formal variant. For some educated speakers, especially in the southern United States and Britain, is in fact the more common pronunciation, while for other educated speakers, is common in virtually all circumstances. In response to correction from perceived authorities, many American speakers who would ordinarily use at least some of the time make a conscious effort to say , even in informal circumstances.

Word History and Origins

Origin of -ing¹

Middle English; Old English -ing, -ung

Origin of -ing²

Middle English -ing, -inge ; the variant -in (usually represented in spelling as -inʾ ) continues Middle English -inde, -ende, Old English -ende

Origin of -ing³

Middle English, Old English -ing, cognate with Old Norse -ingr, -ungr, Gothic -ings

Word History and Origins

Origin of -ing¹

Old English -ing, -ung

Origin of -ing²

Middle English -ing, -inde, from Old English -ende

Origin of -ing³

Old English -ing; related to Old Norse -ingr

Example Sentences

“But there’s a whole other way to impart ideas that I would be completely incapable of, but have no less admiration for. Things that are as inventive as hell and f—ing funny. And you know, it only took 15 seconds of time to put a smile on my face and I’m on to the next one.”

From Los Angeles Times

At one point, Ramos-Brito approached multiple Border Patrol agents who appeared to be Latino and said “you’re a f—ing disgrace if you’re Mexican.”

From Los Angeles Times

“And then we were selling out f—ing everywhere.”

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s not difficult for me to write songs for Roger, but I think it’s difficult to write songs for Roger under the Who banner-- they’ve got to be as good as “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” “Behind Blue Eyes” and “Baba”--f—ing “O’Riley,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times

Give me a shot at this, and I’ll f—ing knock people’s socks off.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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