ing
5 synonyms and 0 antonyms for ing, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A low meadow, especially one near a river; a water meadow (a dialect and historical term).
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
From Old English ing, "a meadow," related to Old Norse eng, still found in northern English place names.
Full origin of ing →Frequently asked questions
What does “ing” mean?
The word “ing” means a low meadow, especially one near a river; a water meadow (a dialect and historical term). In plain terms, an old regional word for a riverside meadow, mostly seen now in place names.
How do you pronounce “ing”?
“Ing” is pronounced ihng (/ɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “ing” in a sentence?
Here is “ing” used in a sentence: “Cattle grazed on the ing beside the river.”
What part of speech is “ing”?
“Ing” is a noun.
Where does the word “ing” come from?
The word “ing” comes from Old English. From Old English ing, "a meadow," related to Old Norse eng, still found in northern English place names.
Is “ing” a common word?
“Ing” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between "ing" as a word and the "-ing" suffix?
As a standalone noun, "ing" is a dialect and historical term for a low riverside meadow. This is entirely unrelated to the grammatical suffix "-ing," which forms present participles and gerunds such as "running" or "singing."
Where is the word "ing" used?
"Ing" is a regional and historical term rather than everyday standard English. It survives mainly in local dialect, particularly in parts of northern England, and in English place names.
How does "ing" relate to a water meadow?
A water meadow is low-lying grassland beside a river that is periodically flooded, historically to enrich the soil. An "ing" is essentially this kind of low riverside meadow, so the two terms overlap closely.