killing
English meaning: Killing
Definition
To put to death; to extinguish the life of.
Example
“Smoking kills more people each year than alcohol and drugs combined.”
Another example: “These new shoes are killing my feet.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Neutral and very common in both literal and figurative senses: ending life ('killing time', 'killing of'), and informal use for something excellent or exhausting ('it's killing me', 'killing it'). Register ranges from grave to slang depending on sense.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Middle English 'killen' / 'cullen' (to strike, kill), of uncertain origin, possibly related to 'quell'.
Synonyms
- debilitating
- humorous
- kill
- exhausting
- humourous
- draining
- putting to death
- cleanup
- sidesplitting
- violent death
Antonyms / Opposites
- saving
- reviving
Related Words
Common Collocations
- killing time
- mercy killing
- killing spree
- killing it
- make a killing
Word Forms
kill (v); kills; killed; killing; killing (n)
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