# murdering

/ˈmɝdɝɪŋ/ (US) · /mˈɜːdəɹɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 2. the crime of murder

noun · CEFR B1

the crime or act of killing someone.

For teachers: the gerund form used as a noun to describe the commission of homicide.

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

### 3. doing something badly

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal · Humorous

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

For teachers: to spoil or ruin something through poor execution or lack of skill.

- I like singing, but I am definitely murdering this song right now.
- The amateur actor was completely murdering his lines, much to the frustration of the director and the rest of the cast.

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

## Examples

- The police arrested him for murdering his business partner.
- The detective spent years trying to prove that the suspect was responsible for murdering the wealthy heir.
- In many classic mystery novels, the plot revolves around a character murdering a relative to secure a vast inheritance before the will can be changed.

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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.