English Reference
noun · verb

murdering

n. · v.
US /ˈmɝdɝɪŋ/ UK /mˈɜːdəɹɪŋ/ mur·der·ing

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate Law

    n.the crime or act of killing someone.

    n.the gerund form used as a noun to describe the commission of homicide.

    Simple

    He was sent to prison for the murdering of three innocent people.

    In context

    The documentary explores the psychological motives behind the murdering of political figures during the revolution.

    Usage

    Often used with the definite article 'the' and followed by 'of'.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate InformalHumorous

    v.to perform a song, a language, or a task very badly.

    v.to spoil or ruin something through poor execution or lack of skill.

    Simple

    I like singing, but I am definitely murdering this song right now.

    In context

    The amateur actor was completely murdering his lines, much to the frustration of the director and the rest of the cast.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a common figurative use in spoken English to describe lack of talent rather than actual violence.

    butcheringruiningspoiling

Usage murdering three

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated