killing

1 of 2

noun

kill·​ing ˈki-liŋ How to pronounce killing (audio)
1
: the act of one that kills
2
3
: a sudden notable gain or profit
made a killing in the stock market

killing

2 of 2

adjective

1
: that kills or relates to killing
2
: highly amusing
3
: extremely difficult to deal with
the suspense is killing
also : calling for great strength, stamina, or endurance
a killing schedule
killingly adverb

Examples of killing in a Sentence

Noun The oil spill is responsible for the killing of thousands of birds. Adjective he's usually quiet, but occasionally unleashes some killing remark that cracks everyone up a killing schedule that requires the touring company to play in a different city every night
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Last month 10 former New York corrections employees were indicted in the killing of Robert Brooks, an inmate violently beaten while handcuffed in a prison infirmary in December. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2025 Migrant arrivals at the U.S. border are at their lowest in years, and last week, Mexico extradited 29 cartel figures to the U.S., including the man involved in the 1985 killing of a DEA agent. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
So tragically, there will be more killing and more destruction in Gaza. Chicago Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025 The anti-trapping, anti-killing anything movement has also taken a toll. John Schandelmeier, Anchorage Daily News, 8 Jan. 2022 See All Example Sentences for killing

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of killing was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Killing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/killing. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

killing

noun
kill·​ing
ˈkil-iŋ
: a sudden large profit

More from Merriam-Webster on killing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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