Word
piecing
Phoneticspiec·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpisɪŋ/
UK/pˈiːsɪŋ/
Definition
v. to put small parts together to make a whole. You use this when you fix something broken or try to understand something from clues.
v. to join separate parts or fragments into a complete whole. Often implies gradual assembly or reconstruction from available evidence or material.
Examples
“She is piecing the torn photo back together.”
“The mechanic is piecing together the old engine from spare parts in the garage.”
“After the fire, archivists spent months piecing together charred documents to recover a fuller record of the town's early history.”
Examples
simple
“She is piecing the torn photo back together.”
contextual
“The mechanic is piecing together the old engine from spare parts in the garage.”
complex
“After the fire, archivists spent months piecing together charred documents to recover a fuller record of the town's early history.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “piecing” in context.
Verb
01. keep piecing
“Keep piecing the parts together until the picture is clear.”
verb + verb
02. piecing together
“He is piecing together the story from old letters.”
verb + particle
03. start piecing
“We started piecing together the puzzle after lunch.”
verb + verb
Adjective
04. carefully piecing
“She is carefully piecing together the broken cup.”
adv + verb
05. slowly piecing
“They are slowly piecing together what happened that night.”
adv + verb
Noun
06. process of piecing
“The process of piecing together the past takes time.”
noun + prep + verb
07. piecing together a puzzle
“The children are piecing together a puzzle on the floor.”
08. piecing together broken pieces
“He is piecing together broken pieces of the old vase.”
09. piecing together evidence
“Police are piecing together evidence to understand the accident.”
10. piecing together the story
“She is piecing together the story from her grandmother's notes.”
Usage
Commonly paired with 'together' ('piecing together') when meaning to assemble or reconstruct.
Real-World Examples
“In an effort to piece together the events, Reuters examined nine videos captured by eyewitnesses from various angles, along with over 100 still images and interviews with eight witnesses.” “Reuters has pieced together what happened in Inn Din in the days leading up to the killing of the 10 Rohingya – eight men and two high school students in their late teens.” Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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