gaming

noun

gam·​ing ˈgā-miŋ 

1

: the practice or activity of playing games for stakes : gambling

After a six-decade absence, casino gaming makes its return next month to this Southern Indiana valley, once famous for luxury resorts that attracted the nation's elite.

—Michael Rubino

In the same way, casino owners almost never refer to "gambling," which brings to mind damp basements and dice, but always "gaming," which suggests Whist or Scrabble enjoyed in front of a crackling fireplace.

—Wayne Curtis

—often used before another noun

the gaming industry

2

: the practice or activity of playing games (such as board games, card games, or video games)

online/mobile/PC gaming

When most people think of computer gaming, they envision some things that aren't exactly politically correct. Things like blazing lasers, spattering blood and beheaded aliens. However, Internet gaming really does offer something for everyone.

—Kim Komando

—often used before another noun

You can get curved gaming monitors too, for added immersion in certain games.

—Jon Martindale

After looking through the gaming options, we decided on Quick Draw—a game that gives one participant a word to draw, while the other callers try to guess what the word is.

—Becca Miller

Examples of gaming in a Sentence

He does a lot of gaming online.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Facility's International Reach And Current Projects The A&M MoCap Lab has already conducted two Hollywood productions remotely, both for the gaming industry, the details of which Annapurna did not disclose in our interview. — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026

Weighing just 55 grams, the Razer Viper V3 Pro transitions effortlessly from detailed design projects and study sessions to competitive after-class gaming. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026

Expectations are high for Hollywood Casino Aurora to attract gamblers and non-gamblers alike with a plethora of dining options, amenities, a hotel and a brand-new gaming floor. — Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026

In 2023, Luckey reestablished ModRetro—originally his 2009 online forum—as a hardware start-up designing and manufacturing modern remakes of classic 1990s handheld gaming systems. — Bydavid Schepp, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

game entry 1 or game entry 3 + -ing entry 1

First Known Use

1501, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing gaming

• tabletop gaming

Rhymes for gaming

• aiming
• blaming
• claiming
• flaming
• framing
• laming
• maiming
• naming
• shaming
• taming
• declaiming
• defaming

Kids Definition

gaming

noun

gam·​ing

ˈgā-miŋ

1

: the practice of gambling

2

: the acting out of a situation (as war) for training or testing

3

: the playing of video games