# talking

/ˈtɔkɪŋ/ (US) · /tˈɔːkɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/talking
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. the act of speaking

noun · CEFR A2

the act of speaking or having a conversation with someone.

For teachers: the act of verbal communication or discussion. Uncountable in its general sense; countable when referring to specific instances of negotiation.

- There was a lot of talking during the movie, which was very annoying.
- The constant talking in the back of the lecture hall made it nearly impossible for the other students to focus on the professor's slides.

## Examples

- There is too much talking in the library.
- The teacher asked for less talking so that everyone could focus on the final exam.
- While some find constant talking to be a sign of social confidence, others view it as a barrier to deep reflection and active listening.

---

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.