-ing

Meaning

1. Used to form nouns or noun-like words (or elements of noun phrases) from verbs, denoting the act of doing something, an action, or the embodiment of an action.
2. Used to form nouns or noun-like words (or elements of noun phrases) from verbs, denoting the act of doing something, an action, or the embodiment of an action.
3. Used to form nouns denoting materials or systems of objects which are used or employed in an action, or considered collectively.

Synonyms

-ly

when

-ed

-ful

-ment

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɪŋ/

Etymology

table
Inherited from Middle English -ing, from Old English -ing, -ung (“-ing”, suffix forming nouns from verbs), from Proto-West Germanic *-ingu, *-ungu, from Proto-Germanic *-ingō, *-ungō. Cognate with Saterland Frisian -enge (“-ing”), West Frisian -ing (“-ing”), Dutch -ing (“-ing”), Low German -ing, -ink (“-ing”), German -ung (“-ing”), Danish -ing (“-ing”), Swedish -ing (“-ing”), Icelandic -ing (“-ing”).