# ironing

/ˈaɪɝnɪŋ/ (US) · /ˈaɪənɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ironing
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

the activity of using a hot tool to make clothes smooth and flat. It can also mean the pile of clothes that you need to iron.

For teachers: the action or process of smoothing clothes with a heated appliance; also refers to a quantity of laundry requiring this treatment.

## Examples

- I usually do the ironing while watching television.
- He left a large pile of ironing on the chair because he was too tired to finish it last night.
- While some find the repetitive motion of ironing to be a meditative domestic task, others view the constant upkeep of formal attire as a tedious necessity of professional life.

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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.