pitting

noun

pit·​ting ˈpi-tiŋ 

1

: an arrangement of pits

2

: the action or process of forming pits

3

: the bringing of gamecocks together to fight

Examples of pitting in a Sentence

The car's paint showed some pitting from flying gravel.

Her face had some minor pitting from the chicken pox.

Recent Examples on the Web

The acid in vinegar can cause pitting in natural stone. —Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2025

It had been debated regarding its potential impact on power bills, pitting businesses and residents against each other. —Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 10 Dec. 2025

There could have been a loss for Lando in pitting, pitting both cars with the double stack. —Luke Smith, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2025

Although previous surveys of the same section of battlefield failed to yield any artifacts, experts recovered the various ammunition using two strategies called trial trenching and test pitting. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 30 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for pitting

• fitting
• flitting
• gritting
• hitting
• knitting
• quitting
• sitting
• slitting
• spitting
• splitting
• acquitting
• admitting

Kids Definition

pitting

present participle of pit

Medical Definition

pitting

noun

1

: the action or process of forming pits (as in acned skin, a tooth, or a dental restoration)

2

: the formation of a depression or indentation in living tissue that is produced by pressure with a finger or blunt instrument and disappears only slowly following release of the pressure in some forms of edema