packing 1 of 2

noun

Definition of packingnext
as in filling

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packing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of pack
1
as in plugging
to close up so that no empty spaces remain carefully pack the food containers so we'll have as much as possible for the picnic

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in loading
to put into (something) as much as can be held or contained I had packed the suitcase so tightly that it wouldn't close

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in carrying
to support and take from one place to another remember to pack several changes of clothing

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4
as in bearing
to wear or have on one's person a private detective packing a weapon

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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 packing
Noun
Every woman, child, and man alive was out here grinding all day every day except on Lincoln’s Birthday in death-trap packing plants controlled by a five-man syndicate called the Beef Trust. — Claire Carusillo, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 That includes not only attending school events or packing lunches, but also the less visible work of scheduling doctor appointments, signing up for after-school activities and responding to emails or calls from teachers and administrators. — Kristy Buzard, The Conversation, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
Jessica Alba is packing plenty into the final stretch of summer. — Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026 The AirPods Pro 3 deliver ultimate quiet for busy campus routines, packing twice the active noise cancellation of previous models to block out library distractions. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for packing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for packing
  1. filling
  2. plugging
  3. loading
  4. carrying
  5. fill
  6. hauling
  7. filler
  8. transporting
Noun
  • These mini bottles can fasten right onto the top of your favorite perfume nozzles for easy filling—they’re ready for travel in a few short pumps!
    — Hayley Domin, Travel + Leisure, 8 Aug. 2026
  • As the cobbler cools, the filling will continue thickening and the top layer will settle.
    — Terrence Hayes, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of filling
Verb
  • Meanwhile, plugging the case in for 10 minutes will give it and the buds 10 hours of juice in total.
    — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The other was plugging the sewer, which could be done for around $2,500 and would also cut off the Kingdom’s water supply.
    — Zander Sherman, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of plugging
Verb
  • In response, Diez brought up Schaeffler’s plant in South Carolina, where Digit is working right now, loading greasy machine parts into an industrial washer.
    — John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The Red Sox were limited to one run in the bottom of the 11th despite loading the bases with one out.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of loading
Verb
  • Ultimately, though, the highlight is grabbing a glass of local wine at the lobby bar, carrying it to any one of the viewpoints on the massive lawn, and watching sunset over the silent sound, feeling like everything the light touches is yours.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The Houthis claimed responsibility for the strike via the group’s news agency Saba on Tuesday, saying the ship was carrying military equipment.
    — Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of carrying
Noun
  • The Real Test The company that can trace a technology dollar to a specific improvement, a fill rate, a cost per case, an order guide that used to take days and now takes minutes, is the one that survives its next budget review with confidence.
    — Steven Singer, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Stuffed with premium duck down fill, its medium loft offers the perfect neck support for back sleepers.
    — Lara Kramer, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of fill
Verb
  • Families who love trails might lean toward all-terrain bikes, while parents hauling groceries or little ones may want the extra boost of an e-bike.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The Falcon 9's upper stage, meanwhile, continued hauling the 29 Starlink satellites to LEO today.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of hauling
Noun
  • Common additives and fillers in saffron capsule supplements include rice powder, silica, stearic acid and acacia gum.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • United Russia, the country’s nominal ruling party, was never built to designate an heir; rather, it was meant to ensure that elections produced reliably pro-regime seat-fillers in institutions such as parliament.
    — Julian G. Waller, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of filler
Verb
  • According to the country's Home Affairs department, which briefed lawmakers on Tuesday, the country has spent nearly $18 million accommodating and transporting immigrants who demanded to return to their home countries.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • City Hall was open Wednesday and the city sent fire rescue trucks to assist in Portage as well as extra V-Line buses to help Porter County EMS in transporting patients who need oxygen to a hospital in another city.
    — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of transporting

Phrases Containing packing

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packhorses
packing
packing (off)
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Cite this Entry

“Packing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/packing. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on packing

Nglish: Translation of packing for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about packing

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