English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun B1 Intermediate Common

parking

PAH-kihng
Quiz me More like this

Parking (noun) means the act of stopping and leaving a vehicle in a location. Example: “Parking downtown can be a nightmare on weekends.”

noun
1
The act of stopping and leaving a vehicle in a location.
"Parking downtown can be a nightmare on weekends."
"Parking on this street is not allowed between eight and ten in the morning."
"Her careful parking left plenty of room for the cars on either side."
2
A space or area designated for vehicles to be left.
"The building offers free parking for visitors."
"The hotel has underground parking, so your car will be safe overnight."
"Is there any parking near the station, or should we take the bus?"

How to use parking

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the act of leaving a vehicle somewhere, or the space set aside for that purpose.

Common pairings
parking lot parking space free parking
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like parking.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice

Word forms

Plural
parkings
Test yourself on “parking” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ downtown can be a nightmare on weekends.

Etymology

From park + -ing.

Rhymes for parking

See all rhymes for parking →

Frequently asked questions

What does “parking” mean?
The word “parking” means the act of stopping and leaving a vehicle in a location. In plain terms, either the act of leaving a vehicle somewhere, or the space set aside for that purpose.
How do you pronounce “parking”?
“Parking” is pronounced PAH-kihng (/ˈpɑɹ.kɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “parking” in a sentence?
Here is “parking” used in a sentence: “Parking downtown can be a nightmare on weekends.”
What part of speech is “parking”?
“Parking” is a noun.
Is “parking” a common word?
“Parking” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “parking” have?
“Parking” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of stopping and leaving a vehicle in a location.
What is the difference between parking and stopping?
In traffic terms, stopping is a brief halt — for example to let a passenger out — while the driver usually stays ready to move. Parking means leaving the vehicle stationary and unattended for longer. This distinction matters legally, since many signs forbid parking but still allow a quick stop.
What are the types of parking?
The main types are parallel parking, where the car lines up with the kerb; perpendicular parking, at a right angle to it; and angle, or bay, parking, at a slant. Parking can also be described as on-street or off-street, such as in a car park or multi-storey garage.
What is the difference between parking and standing?
In many traffic codes, "standing" means stopping temporarily to load or unload passengers while remaining with the vehicle, whereas "parking" means leaving it unattended. Signs often distinguish "no parking" from the stricter "no standing," so knowing the difference can help you avoid a fine.

Featured in