tilling

present participle of till
as in cultivating
to work by plowing, sowing, and raising crops on farmers tilling the soil from sunup to sunset

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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 tilling Repeatedly tilling clay worsens soil compaction, so only do this the first year. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 29 July 2026 Root vegetables like potatoes and carrots require some degree of tilling to harvest at scale and is less damaging to soil health than glyphosate. Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 The soil, Hakena Hulitt said, was hard, dry and cracked from being farmed with heavy machinery, and has been rejuvenated with compost, tilling and learning how to keep weeds at bay without pesticides. Amy Lavalley, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026 Others are tilling similar ground, with MS NOW working to launch a broadband subscription offering that focuses on its community of viewers. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 16 June 2026 Prevent ant hills by maintaining trimmed grass, removing debris, tilling soil, and planting pest-repellent herbs like mint or basil. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 June 2026 Wormser suggests tilling the ground and covering it with black plastic to deprive existing grass and weeds of sunlight. Ann Hinga Klein, Martha Stewart, 28 Apr. 2026 The film mostly exists as an exercise in further tilling personal earth that Romvari previously traversed in her short films. Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026 Additionally, tilling wet soil can do more harm than good by creating dense soil layers and deep ruts. Nora Doonan, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tilling
Verb
  • Modi has been one of India’s most dominant prime ministers in decades, winning elections while cultivating an image of decisive leadership.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Individuals can develop similar habits by reading broadly, cultivating diverse professional networks, experimenting with emerging technologies and deliberately seeking viewpoints that challenge their own thinking.
    David Henkin, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • As more and more produce for American markets has been grown overseas in recent decades, the US government has largely outsourced safety oversight to the companies farming and selling it.
    Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Most were farming a token airdrop rather than playing, and when the airdrop disappointed that autumn the audience fell to 41 million by November.
    Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Some transportation companies are doing more than planting trees.
    Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Mercer recommends planting lychee in full sun with at least six to eight hours of direct sun each day, as this will allow for the best growth and fruit production.
    SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 2 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Or abalone farmed in Santa Barbara—California’s ban on harvesting wild abalone remains in place—served au gratin or as crudo.
    David Hochman, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • That is, people (including children) who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for purposes of bag limits.
    Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 29 July 2026
Verb
  • Cultivating collaboration Wounaan, like many Indigenous peoples of lower central and northwestern South America, emphasize tending to relationships.
    Chenier Carpio Opua, The Conversation, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Immigrants make up 47% of workers tending to people in long-term care facilities here, a 2026 report from KFF said.
    Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Aug. 2026

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“Tilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tilling. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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