noun
Common
cheating
CHEE-tihng
Cheating (noun) means the act of deceiving or breaking rules for unfair gain, or being unfaithful to a partner. Example: “Cheating in exams can lead to a student being disqualified from the course.”
noun
1
The act of deceiving or breaking rules for unfair gain, or being unfaithful to a partner.
"Cheating in exams can lead to a student being disqualified from the course."
"Cheating on the test got him suspended for a week."
"Her cheating ended the marriage."
adj
1
Behaving dishonestly or unfaithfully.
"The cheating player was banned from the tournament after the referee saw the marked cards."
"He felt hurt when he found out about his cheating partner."
"Her cheating ex-boyfriend never apologized."
How to use cheating
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDishonest behaviour that breaks rules or trust — in a game, a test, or a relationship.
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Word forms
- Plural
- cheatings
- Comparative
- more cheating
- Superlative
- most cheating
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ in exams can lead to a student being disqualified from the course.
Synonyms
View more →
infidelity
deception
fraud
dishonesty
double-dealing
unfaithfulness
cheat
foul
unsportsmanlike
adulterous
unsporting
dirty
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for cheating
See all rhymes for cheating →Frequently asked questions
What does “cheating” mean?
The word “cheating” means the act of deceiving or breaking rules for unfair gain, or being unfaithful to a partner. In plain terms, dishonest behaviour that breaks rules or trust — in a game, a test, or a relationship.
How do you pronounce “cheating”?
“Cheating” is pronounced CHEE-tihng (/ˈt͡ʃiːtɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “cheating” in a sentence?
Here is “cheating” used in a sentence: “Cheating on the test got him suspended for a week.”
What part of speech is “cheating”?
Depending on how it is used, “cheating” can be a noun and an adjective.
Is “cheating” a common word?
“Cheating” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “cheating” have?
“Cheating” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of deceiving or breaking rules for unfair gain, or being unfaithful to a partner.
What is the difference between cheating and lying?
Lying is stating something untrue, while cheating is deceiving or breaking rules for unfair gain. Cheating often involves lying, but it specifically centres on gaining an unfair advantage or being unfaithful, rather than simply telling an untruth.
What is the difference between cheating and infidelity?
In a relationship, cheating means being unfaithful to a partner, which is the same idea as infidelity. "Cheating" is the everyday, informal term, while "infidelity" is more formal and tends to appear in serious or written contexts.
Can "cheating" be used as an adjective?
Yes. As an adjective, cheating describes someone behaving dishonestly or unfaithfully, as in "a cheating partner" or "cheating behaviour." As a noun it names the act itself, as in "cheating is against the rules."
What is the difference between cheating and stealing?
Stealing is taking something that belongs to another person. Cheating is deceiving or breaking rules for unfair gain, and it need not involve taking any physical object, for example by breaking the rules of a game or being unfaithful to a partner.
