mowing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to informal in literal sense; more formal/technical in agricultural contexts.
Quick answer
What does “mowing” mean?
The act of cutting down grass, crops, or other vegetation with a tool or machine, especially a mower.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of cutting down grass, crops, or other vegetation with a tool or machine, especially a mower.
Can also refer to the quantity of grass or crop cut in one session; or metaphorically, to cutting down or defeating things decisively, as in "mowing down the competition".
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. 'Lawn mowing' is a common phrase in both. The phrase 'making hay while the sun shines' (related to mowing) is equally common.
Connotations
Similar pastoral/agricultural connotations. In the US, 'mowing the lawn' is a quintessential suburban weekend chore.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to prevalence of suburban lawns and the phrase 'mowing the lawn'.
Grammar
How to Use “mowing” in a Sentence
[Subject] + be + mowing + [Object] (e.g., He is mowing the lawn).[Subject] + require + mowing (e.g., The field requires mowing).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mowing” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He's mowing the back garden before the barbecue.
- Farmers were mowing the hay all week.
American English
- I'll be mowing the yard on Saturday.
- They're mowing the median on the highway.
adverb
British English
- N/A - 'mowing' is not standardly used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A - 'mowing' is not standardly used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The mowing contractor arrives on Tuesdays. (as a compound modifier)
- He bought a new mowing machine.
American English
- She runs a professional mowing service.
- The mowing schedule is every two weeks.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except for landscaping/agricultural businesses (e.g., 'commercial mowing services').
Academic
Rare, except in historical/agricultural studies (e.g., 'the mowing of medieval meadows').
Everyday
Common (e.g., 'I spent the afternoon mowing.').
Technical
Used in agriculture/horticulture (e.g., 'mowing height affects turf health.').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mowing”
- Incorrect: 'I was mow the lawn.' Correct: 'I was mowing the lawn.'
- Spelling confusion: 'mowing' vs. 'moaning'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily the present participle/gerund of the verb 'to mow' (e.g., 'I am mowing'). It functions as a verbal noun (e.g., 'Mowing is tiring').
'Mowing' refers to cutting grass or crops down to a uniform height over a large area, typically with a machine. 'Trimming' is more precise, cutting edges or small areas, often with shears or a strimmer.
Yes, it can be used for cutting down grain crops (e.g., mowing wheat, mowing hay) or, metaphorically, for cutting down people or things (e.g., 'mowing down enemies').
The past tense is 'mowed' (or archaic 'mown' as past participle). This doesn't affect the gerund 'mowing', which remains the same.
The act of cutting down grass, crops, or other vegetation with a tool or machine, especially a mower.
Mowing is usually neutral to informal in literal sense; more formal/technical in agricultural contexts. in register.
Mowing: in British English it is pronounced /ˈməʊɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmoʊɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Making hay while the sun shines (derived from the need to mow hay in good weather).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a person going back and forth saying, "I'M GOING to mow the lawn." The 'going' sound in the middle helps remember 'mow-ing'.
Conceptual Metaphor
MOWING IS A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE TASK (like cleaning). / MOWING DOWN IS MASSIVE, EFFORTLESS DESTRUCTION (like a machine gun).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'mowing' LEAST likely to be used?