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
Anker Portable Charger $50 A portable battery charger is another essential for cruise packing.
—Becca Blond, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2024
The formula is of the highest possible quality; the packing alone is based on modern tech and ensures a 2-year shelf life.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
And some were eliminated by each other, as when Iowa State bounced Washington State and Creighton sent Oregon packing.
—Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Apr. 2024
That meant Dawn turned to dusk, and the Brooklyn queen was sent packing.
—Stephen Daw, Billboard, 26 Mar. 2024
Those hoping to climb Everest this year will have to make some slight adjustments to their packing list, as new rules now mandate that climbers bring their excrement down with them from the world’s highest peak, in a bid to tackle pollution.
—Amy Woodyatt, CNN, 25 Mar. 2024
Malaysia’s track record has been mostly in the back end of the semiconductor supply chain — which includes packing, assembling and testing components — activities that traditionally have been considered less complex and of lower value.
—Patricia Cohen, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024
My packing essentials for traveling with Crohn's: Like many people with Crohn’s, my joints often swell during a flare-up.
—Katie Jackson, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Mar. 2024
There are several factors that complicate the packing and storage process.
—Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2024
Becca Blond, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2024
The formula is of the highest possible quality; the packing alone is based on modern tech and ensures a 2-year shelf life.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
And some were eliminated by each other, as when Iowa State bounced Washington State and Creighton sent Oregon packing.
—Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Apr. 2024
That meant Dawn turned to dusk, and the Brooklyn queen was sent packing.
—Stephen Daw, Billboard, 26 Mar. 2024
Those hoping to climb Everest this year will have to make some slight adjustments to their packing list, as new rules now mandate that climbers bring their excrement down with them from the world’s highest peak, in a bid to tackle pollution.
—Amy Woodyatt, CNN, 25 Mar. 2024
Malaysia’s track record has been mostly in the back end of the semiconductor supply chain — which includes packing, assembling and testing components — activities that traditionally have been considered less complex and of lower value.
—Patricia Cohen, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024
My packing essentials for traveling with Crohn's: Like many people with Crohn’s, my joints often swell during a flare-up.
—Katie Jackson, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Mar. 2024
There are several factors that complicate the packing and storage process.
—Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'packing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near packing
Cite this Entry
“Packing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/packing. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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—Journal of the American Medical Association
Journal of the American Medical Association2
: the material used in packing
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