gerund

noun

ger·​und ˈjer-ənd 

ˈje-rənd

1

: a verbal noun in Latin that expresses generalized or uncompleted action

2

: any of several linguistic forms analogous to the Latin gerund in languages other than Latin

especially : the English verbal noun ending in -ing that has the function of a substantive and at the same time shows the verbal features of tense, voice, and capacity to take adverbial qualifiers and to govern (see govern sense 4) objects

Examples of gerund in a Sentence

In the sentence “Learning can be fun,” “learning” is a gerund.

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin gerundium, from Latin gerundus, gerundive of gerere to bear, carry on

First Known Use

1513, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

gerund

noun

ger·​und ˈjer-ənd 

: an English noun formed from a verb by the addition of -ing that is capable of being modified by adverbs and taking an object