-ing

1 of 3

noun suffix (1)

iŋ,

 also  ēŋ;

 in some dialects & in other dialects informally  in,

ən,

 also  ēn;

 after certain consonants  ᵊn,

ᵊm,

ᵊŋ

1

: action or process

running

sleeping

: instance of an action or process

a meeting

2

a

: product or result of an action or process

an engraving

—often in plural

earnings

b

: something used in an action or process

a bed covering

the lining of a coat

3

: action or process connected with (a specified thing)

boating

4

: something connected with, consisting of, or used in making (a specified thing)

scaffolding

shirting

5

: something related to (a specified concept)

offing

-ing

2 of 3

noun suffix (2)

: one of a (specified) kind

sweeting

-ing

3 of 3

verb suffix or adjective suffix

—used to form the present participle

sailing

and sometimes to form an adjective resembling a present participle but not derived from a verb

swashbuckling

How do you pronounce -ing?: Usage Guide

Though the pronunciation of -ing with the consonant \n\, misleadingly referred to as "dropping the g," is often deprecated, this pronunciation is frequently heard. It is not known for certain why the Middle English present participle ending -ende was replaced by -ing. Analogy with the earlier noun suffix -ing probably had something to do with it. In early Modern English, present participles were regularly formed with -ing pronounced \iŋg\ (as can still be heard in a few dialects) and later \iŋ\. Evidence also shows that some speakers used \in\ and by the 18th century this pronunciation became widespread. Though teachers (with some success) campaigned against it, \in\ remained a feature of the speech of many of the best speakers in Britain and the U.S. well into the 20th century. It has by now lost its respectability, at least when attention is drawn to it, but throughout the U.S. it persists largely unnoticed, and in some dialects it predominates over \iŋ\.

Word History

Etymology

Noun suffix (1)

Middle English, from Old English -ung, -ing, suffix forming nouns from verbs; akin to Old High German -ung, suffix forming nouns from verbs

Noun suffix (2)

Middle English, from Old English -ing, -ung; akin to Old High German -ing one of a (specified) kind

Verb suffix or adjective suffix

Middle English, probably from -ing entry 1

Kids Definition

-ing

1 of 2 verb suffix or adjective suffix

iŋ,

ēŋ;

 in some dialects usually & in other dialects informally  in,

ēn,

ən

—used to form the present participle

sailing

and sometimes to form an adjective not derived from a verb

swashbuckling

-ing

2 of 2 noun suffix

1

: action or process

running

meeting

2

: product or result of an action or process

an engraving

earnings

3

: something used in or connected with making or doing

bedding

roofing

Etymology

Verb suffix or adjective suffix

Middle English -ing "-ing," probably from the noun suffix -ing

Noun suffix

Old English -ing, -ung "one belonging to or of a (specified) kind"