noun Uncommon

barking

BAH-kihng

Barking (noun) means the sharp, repeated sound a dog makes. Example: “The barking next door kept us up half the night.”

noun

The sharp, repeated sound a dog makes.

"The barking next door kept us up half the night."

How to use barking

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe noise dogs make, or the act of making it.

Common mistake

British slang: "barking" (or "barking mad") means completely crazy.

Common pairings

barking dog barking mad

barkings plural

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Can you complete this real example?

The _____ next door kept us up half the night.

From Middle English berkyng, berkande, equivalent to bark + -ing.

Origin: Middle English

parking marking sparking embarking

What does “barking” mean?

The word “barking” means the sharp, repeated sound a dog makes. In plain terms, the noise dogs make, or the act of making it.

How do you pronounce “barking”?

“Barking” is pronounced BAH-kihng (/ˈbɑɹkɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “barking” in a sentence?

Here is “barking” used in a sentence: “The barking next door kept us up half the night.”

What part of speech is “barking”?

“Barking” is a noun.

Is “barking” a common word?

“Barking” is an uncommon word in modern English.