gardening

noun

gar·​den·​ing ˈgär-də-niŋ 

ˈgärd-niŋ

: the act, activity, or pastime of planning and cultivating gardens

… America's number-one leisure pursuit remains the gentle, slow-going, idyllic activity of gardening.

—Margaret Langstaff

… there is no shortage this spring of slick and glossy books on gardening that are long on toothsome photography and short of thoughtful text …

—Allen Lacy

Halide lamps are the most popular source of white light available for indoor gardening, providing the best light spectrum for all stages of plant growth.

—Laura L. Kramer

—often used before another noun

gardening gloves

gardening tools

Examples of gardening in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The National Wildlife Federation notes that gardening activities help children develop environmental empathy, patience, and overall happiness. —Dianne Plummer, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025

Meanwhile, Lee is an earthy bohemian goddess who spends much of her screen time gardening. —Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025

Check out more romper jumpsuits that are perfect for summer gardening below. —Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Apr. 2025

To attend a gardening workshop or subscribe to Leaflet, a free quarterly e-newsletter, go to marinmg.ucanr.edu. —Pamela Noensie, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gardening

• hardening
• pardoning