capping: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to informal, depending on context.
Quick answer
What does “capping” mean?
The act of placing a limit or maximum on something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of placing a limit or maximum on something; the action of covering the top of something.
In informal use, it means lying or exaggerating. In sports (e.g., soccer), it refers to awarding a player an international appearance. In internet slang, it means discrediting or criticizing someone's statements.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
'Capping' in the sense of awarding a sports cap (e.g., for national team selection) is strongly British. The slang meaning 'lying' is more prevalent in American-influenced global internet culture. The 'student cap' on university admissions is a UK policy term.
Connotations
UK: Often neutral/administrative (e.g., council tax capping). US: Slang usage carries strong negative connotation (accusation of dishonesty).
Frequency
The slang usage is significantly more frequent in American digital communication. The administrative/governmental sense is equally common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “capping” in a Sentence
[noun] + capping (e.g., price capping)capping + [noun] (e.g., capping emissions)be + capping (slang, e.g., You're capping.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “capping” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The council is capping its budget for the next fiscal year.
- He received his first capping for the national team last Saturday.
American English
- The state is capping insulin prices.
- Quit capping, we know you didn't meet the celebrity.
adverb
British English
- This is used almost exclusively as a verb or noun, not an adverb.
American English
- This is used almost exclusively as a verb or noun, not an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The capping exercise proved controversial.
- A capping stone was placed on the wall.
American English
- The capping mechanism failed.
- That's a capping statement if I ever heard one. (slang)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
A regulatory measure to control prices or expenditures, e.g., 'The government introduced a capping on energy prices.'
Academic
Discussing policy limits or statistical maximums, e.g., 'The study examines the effects of enrollment capping.'
Everyday
Informal accusation of dishonesty, e.g., 'He's capping about his new car.' Also, putting a lid on a bottle.
Technical
In dentistry: placing a crown. In oil/gas: sealing a well. In gardening: removing the apical bud.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “capping”
- Using the slang term in formal writing. (Incorrect: 'The policy involves capping about the costs.')
- Confusing 'capping' with 'capturing'. (Incorrect: 'capping a photo' instead of 'capturing a photo').
- Using it as a noun where a verb is needed. (Incorrect: 'The capping of the bottle is broken.' Better: 'The cap is broken.')
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends entirely on context. 'Price capping' is formal and technical. 'Stop capping!' is highly informal slang.
It likely derives from African-American Vernacular English (AAVE), where 'cap' means a lie or exaggeration, possibly from the phrase 'high capping' meaning boasting.
Yes, in the UK sports context ('earning a cap/capping') it is a significant positive achievement. The act of 'capping off' a great event is also positive.
Yes. 'Capping' is the action or process. 'A cap' is the object (the lid) or the symbolic limit itself. In slang, 'cap' is the lie, 'capping' is the act of lying.
The act of placing a limit or maximum on something.
Capping: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkæp.ɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkæp.ɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “capping it all (off) (UK: to finish or culminate)”
- “to cap it all”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a bottle: 'capping' it means putting a LIMIT on what can come out, or putting a LID on top. A liar is also trying to put a 'lid' on the truth.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIMITS ARE LIDS / DISHONESTY IS A FALSE COVER
Practice
Quiz
In informal internet slang, what does 'capping' most likely mean?