adjective

wading

Quiz me More like this

Wading (adjective) means Suitable or fit for walking through water on foot, especially shallow water. Example: “She rolled up her trousers and picked her way across the wading section of the river.”

adjective

Suitable or fit for walking through water on foot, especially shallow water.

"She rolled up her trousers and picked her way across the wading section of the river."

"The park has a shallow wading pool for young children."

Describing a bird that walks through shallow water to feed, typically one with long legs.

"Herons and storks are wading birds that hunt fish in shallow water."

How to use wading

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWalking through water, mud, or something similarly thick, or (for a bird) built for doing exactly that.

Common pairings

wading pool wading bird wading through the shallows

Vocabulary Flow

Build your vocabulary from words like wading.

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

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “wading” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She rolled up her trousers and picked her way across the _____ section of the river.

Etymology

From wade plus the suffix -ing; wade itself traces back through Old English to a very old Germanic root meaning "to go" or "to advance".

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for wading

fading reading heading trading leading loading shading pleading treading parading spreading uploading

See all rhymes for wading →

Frequently asked questions

What does “wading” mean?

The word “wading” means suitable or fit for walking through water on foot, especially shallow water. In plain terms, walking through water, mud, or something similarly thick, or (for a bird) built for doing exactly that.

How do you use “wading” in a sentence?

Here is “wading” used in a sentence: “She rolled up her trousers and picked her way across the wading section of the river.”

What part of speech is “wading”?

“Wading” is an adjective.

Where does the word “wading” come from?

The word “wading” comes from Old English. From wade plus the suffix -ing; wade itself traces back through Old English to a very old Germanic root meaning "to go" or "to advance".

How many meanings does “wading” have?

“Wading” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: suitable or fit for walking through water on foot, especially shallow water.