writing

noun

writ·​ing ˈrī-tiŋ How to pronounce writing (audio)
1
: the act or process of one who writes: such as
a
: the act or art of forming visible letters or characters
specifically : handwriting sense 1
b
: the act or practice of literary or musical composition
2
: something written: such as
a
: letters or characters that serve as visible signs of ideas, words, or symbols
b
: a letter, note, or notice used to communicate or record
c
: a written composition
3
: a style or form of composition
4
: the occupation of a writer
especially : the profession of authorship
Phrases
writing on the wall
: an omen or sign of one's unpleasant fate
No one told him he was going to be fired, but he could see the writing on the wall. [=he could see that he was going to be fired soon]

Examples of writing in a Sentence

Writing usually isn't a lucrative career, but it has been very fulfilling for me. He teaches creative writing at the university. Few people nowadays care about the art of letter writing. The novel's plot is okay, but the writing is horrible. I asked a friend to critique my writing. Her essay was a wonderful piece of writing. She has a unique writing style. Much of the best Japanese writing has not been translated into English. the writings of Benjamin Franklin a book of selected writings on moral philosophy
Recent Examples on the Web Music is one finger, acting is one finger, writing is one finger, directing is one finger. Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Nov. 2024 Back in training camp, Jason Dickinson could see the writing on the wall. Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2024 The collaborations are a departure for Chisholm, who did the writing and artwork on his previous book-length projects and gained critical acclaim for his ability to capture the nuances, rhythms and mood of jazz music through his drawing and colors on the page. Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024 In the end, mastering pacing in thriller writing is about understanding the rhythm of suspense. Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for writing 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'writing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of writing was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near writing

Cite this Entry

“Writing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/writing. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

writing

noun
writ·​ing
ˈrīt-iŋ
1
: the act or process of one that writes: as
a
: the formation of letters to express words and ideas : handwriting sense 1
b
: the art or practice of literary or musical composition
2
: something (as a letter or book) that is written or printed
3
: a style or form of composition
4
: the occupation of a writer
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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