ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cycling

n. · adj.
US //ˈsaɪkəɫɪŋ// UK //sˈaɪklɪŋ// cy·cling
  1. 1 riding a bicycle (n.)
    A2 Elementary Sport

    the activity of riding a bicycle for exercise, fun, or travel.

    the activity of riding a bicycle for recreation, transportation, or physical exercise.

    Example

    Cycling is a great way to see the city without using a car.

    Example

    The city council invested heavily in cycling infrastructure, creating dedicated lanes to encourage residents to commute by bike instead of driving.

    Usage

    often used as an uncountable noun.
  2. 2 competitive racing (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Sport

    the sport of racing bicycles.

    the competitive sport of racing bicycles on roads or tracks.

    Example

    He watches professional cycling on TV every summer during the big races.

    Example

    Professional cycling requires immense physical endurance and strategic teamwork, especially during multi-stage mountain climbs.
    • bike racing
  3. 3 repeating process (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    the act of moving through a circle of events that repeat in the same order.

    the movement through a series of events or stages that repeat regularly in the same order.

    Example

    The cycling of nutrients through the soil is essential for healthy plants.

    Example

    The rapid cycling of the machine's cooling system prevented the engine from overheating during the high-stress testing phase.
  4. 4 moving in cycles (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Academic

    describing something that moves in a circle or repeats a pattern.

    characterised by or undergoing a cyclic motion or process.

    Example

    The cycling parts of the engine need regular oil to stay smooth.

    Example

    The researcher observed the cycling nature of the tides, noting how the water levels fluctuated with predictable regularity over the lunar month.
Origin

By surface analysis, cycle + -ing.

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

Last updated June 19, 2026