writing

noun

writ·​ing ˈrī-tiŋ How to pronounce writing (audio)
1
: the act or process of one who writes: such as
a
: the act or art of forming visible letters or characters
specifically : handwriting sense 1
b
: the act or practice of literary or musical composition
2
: something written: such as
a
: letters or characters that serve as visible signs of ideas, words, or symbols
b
: a letter, note, or notice used to communicate or record
c
: a written composition
3
: a style or form of composition
4
: the occupation of a writer
especially : the profession of authorship
Phrases
writing on the wall
: an omen or sign of one's unpleasant fate
No one told him he was going to be fired, but he could see the writing on the wall. [=he could see that he was going to be fired soon]

Examples of writing in a Sentence

Writing usually isn't a lucrative career, but it has been very fulfilling for me. He teaches creative writing at the university. Few people nowadays care about the art of letter writing. The novel's plot is okay, but the writing is horrible. I asked a friend to critique my writing. Her essay was a wonderful piece of writing. She has a unique writing style. Much of the best Japanese writing has not been translated into English. the writings of Benjamin Franklin a book of selected writings on moral philosophy
Recent Examples on the Web In other customs, early writings show evidence of people trying to make sense of eclipses around the world. Detroit Free Press, 25 Mar. 2024 Standing room only tickets for Gallagher Square were still available at the time of this writing on Monday, March 25. The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024 As of this writing, Copilot can only open Microsoft Store apps, not apps from other sources. PCMAG, 22 Mar. 2024 Is that just an inherent risk of writing for others? Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2024 As a premise for an inspirational sports drama, that’s close to unbeatable, and no amount of rote writing in Frank Cottrell-Boyce’s patchy script can dim the film’s lump-in-the-throat effectiveness. Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 Mar. 2024 Capote, played brilliantly with equal parts vulnerable and savage by Tom Hollander descends into drink and darkness when his writing irretrievably ruins his social swirl and closest friendships. Vogue, 21 Mar. 2024 Then, there was her writing career, and an intellectual milieu where the cis-male experience was read as the center of human thought. Emily Witt, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2024 Berlin would have been shrewd to read the writing on the wall when its most important trading partner, China, refused to condemn the invasion, or when Donald Trump encouraged Russia to attack European countries that weren’t spending 2 percent of their GDP on defense. Joseph De Weck, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'writing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of writing was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near writing

Cite this Entry

“Writing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/writing. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

writing

noun
writ·​ing
ˈrīt-iŋ
1
: the act or process of one that writes: as
a
: the formation of letters to express words and ideas : handwriting sense 1
b
: the art or practice of literary or musical composition
2
: something (as a letter or book) that is written or printed
3
: a style or form of composition
4
: the occupation of a writer
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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