noun
necking
Necking (noun) means Informal: passionate kissing and cuddling. Example: “The couple were necking on the park bench.”
noun
1
Informal: passionate kissing and cuddling.
"The couple were necking on the park bench."
2
A behavior in male giraffes where they swing their necks at each other to compete for dominance.
"The documentary showed two bull giraffes necking over a mate."
"Necking helps young male giraffes test which one has a stronger neck."
— Barbara Keevil Parker, Giraffes (2005)
How to use necking
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishKissing and cuddling intensely, or (in giraffes) a neck-swinging contest for dominance.
When to use it
The "kissing" sense is informal/dated slang, mostly heard in older films and books.
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Word forms
- Plural
- neckings
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The couple were _____ on the park bench.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for necking
See all rhymes for necking →Frequently asked questions
What does “necking” mean?
The word “necking” means informal: passionate kissing and cuddling. In plain terms, kissing and cuddling intensely, or (in giraffes) a neck-swinging contest for dominance.
How do you use “necking” in a sentence?
Here is “necking” used in a sentence: “The couple were necking on the park bench.”
What part of speech is “necking”?
“Necking” is a noun.
How many meanings does “necking” have?
“Necking” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: informal: passionate kissing and cuddling.
