English Reference
verb · noun

blending

v. · n.
US /ˈbɫɛndɪŋ/ UK /blˈɛndɪŋ/ blend·ing

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    v.mixing two or more things together so they become one.

    v.the present participle of 'blend', describing the action of combining substances or elements into a uniform mixture.

    Simple

    She is blending the fruit and yogurt to make a healthy smoothie.

    In context

    The chef was carefully blending the spices into the sauce to ensure the heat didn't overpower the delicate herbal notes.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.the process of mixing things like colours, sounds, or ideas so they work well together.

    n.the act or result of merging distinct components; frequently used in artistic or technical contexts to describe seamless transitions.

    Simple

    The artist's blending of blue and green created a beautiful ocean scene.

    In context

    The successful blending of traditional acoustic instruments with modern electronic beats gave the album its unique, contemporary sound.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Technical

    n.joining parts of two words together to make a new word.

    n.the formation of a new lexeme by joining parts of two or more existing words, such as 'brunch' from 'breakfast' and 'lunch'.

    Simple

    The word 'smog' is a famous example of word blending.

    In context

    Morphological blending remains a productive process in modern English, particularly within the realms of technology and social media marketing.

    Usage

    uncountable in a general sense, but countable when referring to specific instances of word formation.

Many emerging artists and groups from the region are now gaining fans by blending modern and traditional elements, adds Piyapong.

The Guardian· 5 Sept 2026

Etymology 1

From Middle English blendinge, equivalent to blend + -ing.

Etymology 2

From blend + -ing. Cognate with Faroese blending (“mixture, crossing”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Middle English blendinge
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated