# tagging

/ˈtæɡɪŋ/ (US) · /tˈæɡɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. identifying people in photos

verb · CEFR B1

to link a person's name to them in a digital photo or social media post.

For teachers: to identify a specific user in a digital image or post by creating a clickable link to their profile.

- She spent the evening tagging her friends in the photos from the wedding.
- The platform's new algorithm simplifies the process of tagging individuals in group photographs by suggesting names based on facial recognition.

### 2. labelling physical items

verb · CEFR B1

to attach a physical label or price to an object.

For teachers: to attach a physical tag or label to an object for identification, pricing, or tracking purposes.

- The staff were busy tagging all the new clothes with sale prices.
- Before the inventory could be processed, every crate required tagging with a unique barcode to ensure accurate tracking through the warehouse.

### 3. graffiti art

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

the act of writing your name or symbol in a public place as graffiti.

For teachers: the practice of painting a stylized signature or logo on a public surface, typically associated with graffiti culture.

- The city council is trying to stop people from tagging the local train stations.
- While some residents view tagging as a form of urban expression, the local authorities treat it strictly as property damage.

### 4. following someone

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to follow someone closely, especially when they do not want you to.

For teachers: to follow or shadow someone closely; often used in the phrasal verb 'tagging along'.

- My little brother is always tagging along when I go out with my friends.
- Although he wasn't officially invited to the meeting, he ended up tagging along with the senior partners to observe the negotiations.

## Examples

- She is busy tagging all the new clothes with price labels.
- Please remember to start tagging your photos with the event name so we can find them in the database later.
- By tagging specific proteins with fluorescent markers, researchers can observe how molecules move through a living cell in real time under a microscope.

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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.