talking
English meaning: Talking
Definition
Present participle of 'talk': showing that someone is speaking right now.
Example
“They were talking so loudly in the cinema that nobody around them could hear the film.”
Another example: “Stop talking and listen for a moment.”
Usage — When, Where & How
The present participle and gerund of 'talk', used in continuous tenses ('she is talking') and as a noun ('the talking stopped'); everyday register. The phrase 'talking to' can also mean a scolding.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Middle English 'talken', with the '-ing' ending forming the present participle.
Related Words
Common Collocations
- talking about
- keep talking
- talking point
- talking to
- stop talking
- talking head
Word Forms
talk (v); talking; talked; talks
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B