noun
bailing
BAY-lihng
Bailing (noun) means the act of scooping water out of a boat, or more generally, removing something unwanted bit by bit. Example: “After the storm, the crew spent an hour bailing water from the flooded deck.”
noun
1
The act of scooping water out of a boat, or more generally, removing something unwanted bit by bit.
"After the storm, the crew spent an hour bailing water from the flooded deck."
verb
1
Informal: leaving a situation abruptly, or backing out of a commitment.
"He ended up bailing on the trip at the last minute."
How to use bailing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishScooping water out of something (like a boat) — or, informally, quitting or backing out of plans.
Common mistake
Not to be confused with "baling" (compressing hay or straw into bales) or posting bail for someone in custody, which uses the same spelling but a different sense of "bail".
Common pairings
bailing water
bailing out
bailing on plans
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Word forms
- Plural
- bailings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
After the storm, the crew spent an hour _____ water from the flooded deck.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for bailing
See all rhymes for bailing →Frequently asked questions
What does “bailing” mean?
The word “bailing” means the act of scooping water out of a boat, or more generally, removing something unwanted bit by bit. In plain terms, scooping water out of something (like a boat) — or, informally, quitting or backing out of plans.
How do you pronounce “bailing”?
“Bailing” is pronounced BAY-lihng (/ˈbeɪlɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “bailing” in a sentence?
Here is “bailing” used in a sentence: “After the storm, the crew spent an hour bailing water from the flooded deck.”
What part of speech is “bailing”?
Depending on how it is used, “bailing” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “bailing” have?
“Bailing” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of scooping water out of a boat, or more generally, removing something unwanted bit by bit.
