Definition of farmingnext
as in agriculture
the science or occupation of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock since an ancestor settled there in the 19th century, farming has been the only occupation for six generations of the family

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farming

2 of 3

adjective

as in agricultural
engaged in or concerned with agriculture years of drought had a devastating impact on the region's farming communities

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

farming

3 of 3

verb

present participle of farm
as in cultivating
to work by plowing, sowing, and raising crops on we're planning on farming 50 acres the first year

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of farming
Noun
Agricultural drones are becoming more common in Connecticut and can support a wide range of farming activities. Nora Doonan, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026 Regenerative agriculture is a sustainable farming practice focused on soil health. Lizzie Kane june 29, Sacbee.com, 29 June 2026
Adjective
Connecticut has also seen a boom in backyard growers popping up in suburban neighborhoods with micro-farming businesses becoming more popular. Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2026 Some of those people may be professional myrmecologists (scientists who specialize in the study of ants) and fourmiculture (ant-farming) enthusiasts. IEEE Spectrum, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
Nelson Saenz relocated to his hometown of Aurora after farming in Michigan. Linda Girardi, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026 He’s been farming and gardening since 2008 with different neighborhood associations and other places in the city. Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for farming
Recent Examples of Synonyms for farming
Noun
  • Local agriculture can benefit from precision farming, predictive analytics, and resource optimization that increase productivity while lowering costs.
    Britney Porter, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Yet despite those struggles, South Africa, one of Africa’s leading industrial economies, remains a destination for migrants willing to take low-paying jobs in domestic work, security and agriculture.
    Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
Adjective
  • Geopolitical shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic or overseas wars can choke supply chains, create more demand for the limited supply and cause prices to spike, said UC Davis agricultural economist Dan Sumner.
    Chase Hunter, Boston Herald, 6 July 2026
  • For one thing, city water is treated so it can be safely consumed, while agricultural water isn't.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Verb
  • Leaders recognize the value of cultivating resilience from the inside, but building that culture isn’t a one-time initiative.
    Sentry Insurance, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Hydrangea expert Mal Condon has been cultivating and studying hydrangeas for over 50 years.
    SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 29 June 2026
Adjective
  • Restaurant Pearl Morissette—a 42-acre biodynamic farm with an agrarian-centric tasting menu—was just awarded its second Michelin Star, and sits at North America’s third best restaurant.
    Kate Dingwall, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • This usually centers on the likes of Jefferson and his local, agrarian ideal; James Madison and his counterbalancing factions; Alexander Hamilton and his distrust of the common people.
    Jesse Wegman, The Atlantic, 20 June 2026
Verb
  • Since radishes mature much more quickly than carrots, harvesting them creates room for the carrots to fully mature.
    SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 30 June 2026
  • Historians estimate that people have been growing and harvesting olives for some 8,000 years.
    Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • As a bonus, those seasons are ideal for planting a replacement shrub or re-establishing a lawn if it is damaged during the shrub removal.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 July 2026
  • Daugherty recommends planting various evergreens to provide food and shelter for birds over the winter.
    The Spruce, The Spruce, 5 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Farming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/farming. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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