noun
Uncommon
sweating
SWEH-tihng
Sweating (noun) means the process of releasing sweat through the skin, usually to cool the body. Example: “Excessive sweating during the workout left him dehydrated.”
noun
1
The process of releasing sweat through the skin, usually to cool the body.
"Excessive sweating during the workout left him dehydrated."
"Sweating is the body's natural way of cooling itself down on a hot day."
"He was embarrassed by his heavy sweating before the interview."
2
A cooking technique of gently heating vegetables in fat until soft, without browning them.
"Start the recipe by sweating the onions in butter for five minutes."
"Sweating the carrots and celery slowly gives the soup a sweet, mellow base."
"The chef explained that sweating leeks, unlike frying them, keeps them pale and soft."
How to use sweating
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishProducing sweat, or a cooking method of softening vegetables gently in fat.
Common pairings
sweating the onions
sweating profusely
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Word forms
- Plural
- sweatings
- Comparative
- more sweating
- Superlative
- most sweating
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Excessive _____ during the workout left him dehydrated.
Etymology
From "sweat" plus the "-ing" ending, from Middle English sweting.
Related words
Rhymes for sweating
See all rhymes for sweating →Frequently asked questions
What does “sweating” mean?
The word “sweating” means the process of releasing sweat through the skin, usually to cool the body. In plain terms, producing sweat, or a cooking method of softening vegetables gently in fat.
How do you pronounce “sweating”?
“Sweating” is pronounced SWEH-tihng (/ˈswɛtɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “sweating” in a sentence?
Here is “sweating” used in a sentence: “Excessive sweating during the workout left him dehydrated.”
What part of speech is “sweating”?
“Sweating” is a noun.
Where does the word “sweating” come from?
The word “sweating” comes from Middle English. From "sweat" plus the "-ing" ending, from Middle English sweting.
Is “sweating” a common word?
“Sweating” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “sweating” have?
“Sweating” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the process of releasing sweat through the skin, usually to cool the body.
What is the difference between sweating as a bodily process and as a cooking technique?
Sweating as a bodily process refers to releasing sweat through the skin, usually to cool the body during heat or exertion. As a cooking technique, sweating means gently heating vegetables in fat until they soften, without browning them. The two senses share the idea of releasing moisture through gentle, controlled heat.
When would a recipe tell you to start sweating vegetables?
A recipe calls for sweating vegetables, such as onions or garlic, when it wants them softened gently in fat over low to medium heat without browning, usually as a first step before adding other ingredients.
Is sweating during exercise a sign of a problem?
Sweating during exercise is typically a normal, healthy process the body uses to cool itself through releasing sweat through the skin. It becomes a concern only if it is unusually excessive or occurs without physical exertion or heat, which is outside the scope of the word's basic meaning.
