English Reference
adjective · noun

tiring

adj. · n.
US /ˈtaɪɹɪŋ/ UK /tˈaɪəɹɪŋ/ tir·ing

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    adj.making you feel tired and in need of rest.

    adj.causing physical or mental fatigue; depleting one's energy reserves.

    Simple

    It was a long and tiring day at the office with many meetings.

    In context

    The mountain ascent proved exceptionally tiring for the novice hikers, who had underestimated the impact of the steep incline and thin air.

    Pitfall
    I am very tiring after work. I am very tired after work.

    Use 'tiring' to describe the activity (the cause) and 'tired' to describe your feeling (the result).

    refreshingenergizing
  2. 02 C1 Advanced Formal

    n.the act or process of getting tired.

    n.the action or state of becoming fatigued; the gerundive use of the verb 'tire'.

    Simple

    The gradual tiring of the runners was obvious in the final lap.

    In context

    Physiologists monitored the progressive tiring of the muscle groups to determine the exact point of athletic failure during the endurance trial.

    Usage

    Often functions as the subject or object of a sentence in formal analysis of physical exertion.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Technical

    n.tough bits of bone or meat given to a hawk to keep it busy.

    n.tough pieces of meat or bone given to a hawk to engage it and abate its hunger without providing a full meal.

    Simple

    The falconer gave the bird some tiring to keep it occupied.

    In context

    The master of the hunt provided the hawk with a piece of tiring, ensuring the bird remained focused without becoming too heavy to fly.

    Usage

    Specific to the field of falconry.

Don't confuse

tiring vs tired — Tired describes the person feeling the fatigue, while tiring describes the activity that causes it.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated