Word
writing
Phoneticswrit·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɹaɪtɪŋ/
UK/ɹˈaɪtɪŋ/
Definitions
01the activity
A1 · Beginner Uncountable noun
n. the act or process of putting words on paper or a screen.
n. the process of representing language through a system of symbols or letters.
“She spends most of her morning writing in her journal.”
“The student found that the physical act of writing helped him retain complex information better than simply reading the textbook.”
Usage
Uncountable in this sense.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02handwriting style
A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun
n. the way a person's letters look when they write by hand.
n. the particular style or character of a person's penmanship.
“His writing is very messy and difficult to read.”
“The teacher struggled to grade the essay because the student's writing was nearly illegible.”
Usage
Uncountable in this sense.
Synonyms
03a piece of work
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. a book, article, or other document that someone has produced.
n. a specific piece of written work, such as a literary composition or a formal document.
“The professor praised her academic writing for its clarity.”
“The collection includes the early writings of the philosopher, many of which were previously unpublished.”
Usage
Often used in the plural ('writings') when referring to a collection of works.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “writing” in context.
Etymology
From Middle English writing, writyng, wryting, wrytyng, from Old English wrīting (“writing”), equivalent to write + -ing.
From Middle English writinge, wrytynge, writende, writand, from Old English wrītende, present participle of Old English wrītan (“to scratch, carve, write”), equivalent to write + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Idioms
- 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.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL 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: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/writing