1
a
: the action or process of packing something
also
: a method of packing
b
: the processing of food and especially meat for future sale
2
: material (such as a covering or stuffing) used to protect packed goods (as for shipping)
also
: material used for making airtight or watertight
packing for a faucet
3
US politics
: a form of gerrymandering in which election districts are drawn in such a way that voters likely to support the opposing party are concentrated into a single district to limit the influence of their votes in other districts
… it calculates the impact of the two mechanisms that create gerrymandering. The first of these is "packing," which means one side's votes have been overconcentrated so they win by huge margins in a small number of districts (creating a surplus of votes).—
G. Terry Madonna and Michael Young
compare cracking sense 2
G. Terry Madonna and Michael YoungExamples of packing in a Sentence
We finished all our packing yesterday.
I used some old newspapers for packing.
Recent Examples on the Web
Gregory told IndieWire that the packing list to overwinter in Antarctica starts with what a camera operator wears on their hands.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2025
Between various lessons on packing, lodge etiquette on the trek to Base Camp, and where to ask for toilet paper, Coster returned again and again to reminders for the group to chill out and enjoy the journey.
—Ben Ayers, Outside Online, 22 Apr. 2025
That includes options with shorts, pants, and tops with a variety of sleeve lengths, plus wrinkle-free fabrics ideal for long plane rides and packing.
—Jamie Allison Sanders, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025
The Athletic has reported extensively about Harrison since the trade, yielding some insight into the man who sent a transcendent star packing.
—Bob Harkins, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for packing
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.
Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2025
Between various lessons on packing, lodge etiquette on the trek to Base Camp, and where to ask for toilet paper, Coster returned again and again to reminders for the group to chill out and enjoy the journey.
—Ben Ayers, Outside Online, 22 Apr. 2025
That includes options with shorts, pants, and tops with a variety of sleeve lengths, plus wrinkle-free fabrics ideal for long plane rides and packing.
—Jamie Allison Sanders, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025
The Athletic has reported extensively about Harrison since the trade, yielding some insight into the man who sent a transcendent star packing.
—Bob Harkins, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for packing
Cite this Entry
“Packing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/packing. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
packing
noun
pack·ing
ˈpak-iŋ 
1
: the therapeutic application of a pack
hemorrhage … could not be controlled by suture or packing—The Journal of the American Medical Association
The Journal of the American Medical Association2
: the material used in packing
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share