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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 notes

In 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

Word forms

bailings plural

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After the storm, the crew spent an hour _____ water from the flooded deck.

Related words

Rhymes for bailing

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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.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial