# cracking

/ˈkɹækɪŋ/ (US) · /kɹˈækɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cracking
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. excellent

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal · British English

very good, exciting, or impressive.

For teachers: denoting excellence or high quality. Primarily British in register and informal in tone.

- We had a cracking time at the party last night.
- The striker scored a cracking goal from thirty yards out, securing a last-minute victory for the home team.

Usage: Commonly used before a noun like 'time', 'goal', or 'pace'.

### 2. fast

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

moving at a very fast speed.

For teachers: characterised by high speed or rapid progress.

- The car drove past us at a cracking pace.
- The project moved along at a cracking pace once the additional funding was approved by the board.

Usage: Almost always used in the phrase 'at a cracking pace'.

### 3. forming cracks

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the process of lines or breaks appearing on a surface.

For teachers: the physical process of developing fissures or fractures in a material.

- The old walls showed signs of cracking after the dry summer.
- Structural engineers were called in to assess the severe cracking in the building's foundation following the minor earthquake.

Teaching tip: In a technical context, this is a neutral description of damage, not a positive adjective.

### 4. oil processing

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a way of breaking down oil to make petrol.

For teachers: the process whereby complex organic molecules are broken down into simpler molecules such as light hydrocarbons.

- Cracking is an important step in making fuel for cars.
- Fluid catalytic cracking remains one of the most important conversion processes used in modern petroleum refineries.

### 5. very

adverb · CEFR C1 · Informal · British English

used to mean 'very' when you are praising something.

For teachers: an intensifier used to modify adjectives, typically carrying a positive or impressive connotation.

- That was a cracking good read.
- It was a cracking good performance by the lead actor, who managed to capture the character's internal struggle perfectly.

### 6. breaking or making a sound

verb · CEFR B1

the action of breaking slightly or making a sharp noise.

For teachers: the present participle of crack; used for the act of fracturing or producing a sudden sharp noise.

- I could hear the wood cracking in the fireplace.
- The sound of ice cracking under the weight of the vehicle sent a wave of panic through the rescue team.

## Examples

- We had a cracking time at the party last night.
- The team played a cracking game and managed to score three goals in the final ten minutes.
- The author maintains a cracking pace throughout the first three chapters, ensuring that the reader is immediately gripped by the unfolding mystery before the plot begins to thicken.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.