English Reference
noun · adjective

stabbing

n. · adj.
US /ˈstæbɪŋ/ UK /stˈæbɪŋ/ stab·bing

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.an event where someone is hurt or killed with a knife or a pointed object.

    n.an incident involving the act of wounding or killing a person with a pointed weapon, typically a knife.

    Simple

    The police are investigating a stabbing that happened in the city centre last night.

    In context

    Following the fatal stabbing outside the nightclub, local authorities implemented a stricter stop-and-search policy to deter knife crime.

    attackassaultknifing
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

    adj.a sudden, sharp, and very strong feeling of pain.

    adj.describing a sensation of physical or emotional pain that is sudden, acute, and piercing.

    Simple

    He felt a stabbing pain in his chest and decided to see a doctor.

    In context

    The patient described a stabbing sensation in her lower back that intensified whenever she attempted to lift heavy objects.

Toronto Police said in a social media update that officers responded to a call for a stabbing shortly before 4:40 p.m.

Toronto Sun· 16 Aug 2026

Prisoners swarmed the pair, stabbing Jones to death and clubbing Hardy with a blunt weapon.

Smithsonian Magazine· 5 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated