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 notesIn plain EnglishWhatever causes someone's downfall — often used as "X was Y's undoing."
Common pairings
his undoing
prove someone's undoing
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like undoing.
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
- undoings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
His arrogance proved to be his _____.
Etymology
From Middle English undoinge, formed from undo plus the suffix -ing.
Synonyms
View more →
untying
unfastening
Related words
Rhymes for undoing
See all rhymes for undoing →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.
