killing

noun

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

Examples of killing in a Sentence

The oil spill is responsible for the killing of thousands of birds.
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.
The purpose and the extent of hunting were radically altered by the arrival of European guns and markets—the killing of wild animals became an occupation with commercial ends, for both whites and Indians; and wild hides and wild meat became the goods of an insatiable marketplace. Literary Hub, 10 June 2026 Karmelo Anthony, now 19, did not testify in his own defense over the killing of Austin Metcalf, whose death stunned a booming Dallas suburb where the two students attended different schools. ABC News, 9 June 2026 But Adraee has been accused of justifying the killing of some journalists. Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026 He had been prescribed medication to treat schizophrenia before the killings, according to two sources familiar with the criminal investigation. Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for killing

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Killing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/killing. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

killing

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

More from Merriam-Webster on killing

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster