List of Words That End in -ing : Meaning, Rules, Uses

Words that end in -ing appear everywhere in English. They show up in daily conversations, formal writing, stories, textbooks, directions, and even on signs and labels. Because the -ing ending can function as a noun, a verb form, or an adjective, understanding how it works makes English clearer, smoother, and easier to use.

The same three letters can describe an action happening right now, an activity someone enjoys, a permanent quality of something, or even part of a name that has nothing to do with verbs at all. Once you recognize how flexible this ending is, you start to notice how often you depend on it without realizing it.

The -ing form grows from regular verbs, irregular verbs, short verbs, long verbs, single-syllable verbs, and multi-syllable verbs. It also appears in words that aren’t verbs at all. Some forms are created by simple addition, while others require spelling changes, dropping a silent “e,” doubling a consonant, or changing “ie” to “y.”

Each version follows a pattern, and learning those patterns makes it easy to predict the correct form of any verb you encounter. Whether used as a gerund, a present participle, or a participial adjective, the -ing ending carries meaning that shifts subtly depending on its role in a sentence.

Before exploring the variations, it helps to understand the three main functions of -ing words: as nouns (gerunds), as verb forms (present participles), and as adjectives (-ing adjectives).

The Three Main Functions of -ing Words

Gerunds: -ing Words Used as Nouns

When an -ing word acts like a noun, it’s called a gerund. It can stand as the subject or object of a sentence, fit after a preposition, or represent an activity in general. Many daily routines and hobbies are expressed with gerunds. For example, swimming can describe the activity itself, reading may represent a favorite pastime, and walking could refer to a habit. Because gerunds behave like nouns, they take articles, adjectives, and possessive forms. One can talk about “her cooking,” “the painting of the sky,” or “their singing.” These forms carry a sense of activity turned into a concept, idea, or event.

Present Participles: -ing Words Used as Verbs

When the -ing form is used as part of a verb phrase—especially in continuous tenses, it serves as a present participle, often paired with helping verbs like ‘is,’ ‘are,’ or ‘was’.

It helps indicate an action happening right now, an ongoing state, or something in progress in the past or future. Sentences such as They are studying, She was laughing, and I will be working all rely on present participles. They create motion and timing. Without this form, English would have no easy way to show ongoing action.

Present participles also appear after certain verbs that connect smoothly with actions already happening, which is essential for mastering tenses as well as importance of tenses in English. For example, one might say He kept running, She started singing, or They continued arguing. In these cases, the -ing form signals that the action carried on.

-ing Adjectives: Using the Form to Describe Something

Many -ing words act as adjectives. They describe the qualities of a thing or situation. A boring lecture, a shocking announcement, a charming village, or a glowing candle all rely on -ing adjectives. These describe the effect something has or the state it produces. They often relate to emotions (exciting, pleasing, confusing) or behaviors (laughing children, running water, flickering lights). They give vivid energy to descriptions and help paint scenes more clearly.

How to Form -ing Words Correctly (All Spelling Rules)

Because English verbs come in many shapes, forming the -ing version sometimes requires small changes. The basic idea is simple, add “ing”, but spelling rules keep everything consistent and pronounceable.

Rule 1: Drop the Silent “e”

When a verb ends with a silent “e,” that “e” usually disappears before adding -ing.

• make → making
• dance → dancing
• write → writing
• take → taking

Removing the silent “e” keeps the expression smooth and prevents awkward spellings. It also preserves pronunciation, since the silent “e” would otherwise suggest a different vowel sound.

Rule 2: Double the Last Consonant

Short, single-syllable verbs ending with one vowel plus one consonant often double the final consonant before adding -ing.

• run → running
• sit → sitting
• get → getting
• swim → swimming

This doubling keeps the vowel sound short and prevents mispronunciation. Verbs with two syllables sometimes double the consonant as well when the stress falls on the last syllable,.

For example begin → beginning or forget → forgetting.

Rule 3: Change “ie” to “y”

For verbs ending in “ie,” the letters change before forming the -ing version.

• die → dying
• lie → lying
• tie → tying

This avoids the awkward “ieing” combination and keeps the sound natural.

Rule 4: Add “k” Before -ing When a Word Ends in “c”

Verbs ending in “c” take a “k” before -ing.

• picnic → picnicking
• panic → panicking

Rule 5: No Change Needed

Most verbs simply add -ing with no alterations.

• play → playing
• clean → cleaning
• talk → talking
• open → opening

These predictable forms make the -ing ending easy to apply across a wide variety of verbs.

Common Mistakes Learners Make with -ing Words

Because the -ing ending serves multiple purposes, confusion is natural. Many learners mix up the gerund and present participle forms, or they may struggle with spelling rules. A few patterns appear repeatedly:

Using an -ing Form When a Base Verb Is Required

Some verbs take infinitives rather than -ing forms. Using the wrong one creates awkward phrasing. For example, I want singing sounds incomplete, while I want to sing fits naturally.

Incorrect Consonant Doubling

Learners often add double consonants where none are needed, or skip doubling when the rule applies. For example, plan → planing is incorrect (it should be planning), while jump → jumping requires no doubling at all.

Mixing Up Gerunds and Participles

When -ing forms act as nouns, they don’t need helping verbs. When they act as verb forms, they must connect with a form of “be.” For example:

• Swimming is fun. (gerund)
• She is swimming. (present participle)

Mixing them leads to grammatical confusion.

Misusing -ing Adjectives

Sometimes learners confuse -ing adjectives with -ed adjectives. For example:

• The movie was boring. (the movie caused boredom)
• I was bored. (the person experienced boredom)

Using the wrong one changes the meaning entirely.

200+ Useful Words Ending in -ing (Organized by Use)

Everyday Action Verbs Ending in -ing

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
walking	drinking	exercising
running	laughing	studying
cooking	smiling	playing
driving	talking	ironing
reading	sitting	brushing
writing	sleeping	washing
swimming	traveling	sewing
dancing	learning	folding
shopping	watching	shining
cleaning	listening	jumping
eating	opening	climbing
closing	working	fixing
painting	gardening	stacking

Academic and Formal -ing Words

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
analyzing	contrasting	editing
evaluating	identifying	reviewing
summarizing	defining	outlining
researching	calculating	interpreting
concluding	examining	comparing
introducing	editing	interpreting
presenting	reviewing	explaining
describing	outlining	reviving

Descriptive -ing Adjectives

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
charming	pleasing	amazing
exciting	glowing	tiring
calming	flickering	thrilling
relaxing	moving	frightening
confusing	inspiring	interesting
surprising	shocking	amusing
annoying	motivating	satisfying

Professional and Business-Related -ing Words

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
marketing	consulting	forecasting
planning	training	budgeting
organizing	hiring	strategizing
negotiating	leading	outsourcing
coordinating	managing	programming
developing	reporting	designing

Recreation and Hobby-Related -ing Words

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
fishing	skating	collecting
hiking	skiing	decorating
camping	sailing	modeling
baking	jogging	birdwatching
crafting	drawing	sculpting

Words That End in -ing But Aren’t Verbs

Some words end in -ing naturally and have nothing to do with adding the suffix. These appear in names, objects, and concepts:

• morning
• evening
• ceiling
• offspring
• building (as a noun)
• shingling
• farthing
• herring
• clothing
• pudding

Recognizing these prevents confusion when analyzing sentence structure.

Gerund vs. Present Participle (Quick Comparison)

A simple contrast helps distinguish the two roles:

• A gerund acts like a noun: Dancing is enjoyable.
• A present participle acts like a verb: They are dancing together.

The form looks identical, but the function determines how it behaves.

How -ing Words Work in Continuous Tenses

Present Continuous

Used to describe actions happening right now.

• She is writing a message.
• They are preparing dinner.

Past Continuous

Used for actions that were in progress at a certain time in the past.

• He was running when it started raining.
• We were watching a show.

Future Continuous

Used to show ongoing action at a future time.

• She will be traveling next week.
• I will be meeting the team tomorrow.

In each case, the present participle teams up with a form of “be” to express ongoing action.

How to Use -ing Words in Sentences

As the Subject

• Reading improves concentration.
• Swimming strengthens the body.

As the Object

• They enjoy hiking.
• She finished cleaning.

As an Adjective

• The glowing moon looked beautiful.
• The rising smoke formed strange shapes.

With Prepositions

• He left without saying goodbye.
• They talked about moving abroad.

In Descriptions

• The flowing river created a soft sound.
• The bustling market felt alive.

Advanced Notes for Learners

When Not to Use -ing

Some expressions feel unnatural with -ing. Certain verbs prefer infinitives. Others change meaning depending on whether they pair with -ing or an infinitive. For example:

• I stopped smoking. (quit the habit)
• I stopped to smoke. (paused another action)

Verbs Rarely Used with -ing

Modal verbs such as can, may, must do not take -ing forms. Instead, they pair with base verbs. So phrases like “must going” or “can running” never appear naturally.

Pronunciation Considerations

The -ing ending usually ends with a soft “ing” sound, but in some accents it becomes “in” or “een.” Words like singing, ringing, and bringing require clear separation to avoid blending sounds. This becomes especially noticeable when an -ing word sits next to another -ing word.

Mini Practice Section

Try identifying whether each -ing form below acts as a gerund, participle, or adjective:

1. Fishing helps me relax.
2. They were laughing loudly.
3. The falling leaves covered the ground.
4. Jogging every day improves endurance.
5. The dog kept barking.

Examples like these build comfort with each role.

Conclusion

The -ing form is one of the most versatile parts of English. Using a wide variety of -ing words can make your writing more lively and engaging, and it’s a great way to improve vocabulary in writing. It shifts easily between noun, verb, and adjective roles, adapts to various tenses, and appears in many everyday expressions. With the spelling rules, common patterns, and example groups in mind, recognizing and using -ing words becomes second nature. Whether describing ongoing actions, naming activities, or adding vivid detail, this form strengthens communication and brings clarity and energy to language.

Frequently Asked Questions