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noun

undoing

uhn-DOO-ihng

Undoing (noun) means the cause of someone's failure or ruin. Example: “His arrogance proved to be his undoing.”

noun
1
The cause of someone's failure or ruin.
"His arrogance proved to be his undoing."
"Greed was the company's undoing."
2
The act of loosening or unfastening something.
"The undoing of the knot took several minutes."

How to use undoing

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWhatever causes someone's downfall — often used as "X was Y's undoing."

Common pairings
his undoing prove someone's undoing

Word forms

undoings plural

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His arrogance proved to be his _____.

Etymology

From Middle English undoinge, formed from undo plus the suffix -ing.

Origin: Middle English

untying unfastening

Related words

Rhymes for undoing

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Frequently asked questions

What does “undoing” mean?

The word “undoing” means the cause of someone's failure or ruin. In plain terms, whatever causes someone's downfall — often used as "X was Y's undoing.".

How do you pronounce “undoing”?

“Undoing” is pronounced uhn-DOO-ihng (/ʌnˈduːɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “undoing” in a sentence?

Here is “undoing” used in a sentence: “His arrogance proved to be his undoing.”

What part of speech is “undoing”?

“Undoing” is a noun.

Where does the word “undoing” come from?

The word “undoing” comes from Middle English. From Middle English undoinge, formed from undo plus the suffix -ing.

How many meanings does “undoing” have?

“Undoing” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the cause of someone's failure or ruin.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial