pairing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to formal; common in professional, technical, and social contexts.
Quick answer
What does “pairing” mean?
The act or process of putting two people or things together to form a pair, or the state of being so joined.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act or process of putting two people or things together to form a pair, or the state of being so joined.
The result of a combination, often referring to a team, a duo, or two complementary items (like food and wine) considered as a unit. In computing, it refers to establishing a wireless connection between devices.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use 'pairing' identically in core meaning. 'Pairing' in the context of parliamentary procedure (pairing an MP's vote) is a more established UK political term.
Connotations
In the UK, 'pairing' in a culinary/retail context (e.g., wine pairing) might be perceived as slightly more formal or specialist. In the US, its use in tech (Bluetooth pairing) is equally common.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in British English in traditional social/organisational contexts (e.g., pairing students for projects). In American English, high frequency in tech and marketing contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “pairing” in a Sentence
pairing of X and Ypairing between X and Ypairing with Xthe pairing (that) they proposedVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pairing” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The teacher is pairing the year 7 students for the science project.
- Have you tried pairing this cheese with a robust red wine?
American English
- The app is pairing the new device with your account now.
- They're pairing the interns with senior managers for mentorship.
adverb
British English
- This cheese goes pairingly well with a crisp apple.
- (Rare usage, typically not used.)
American English
- (Extremely rare; standard adverbial form is not commonly used for 'pairing'.)
adjective
British English
- The pairing mechanism for the voting system is quite complex.
- We offer a pairing service for language learners.
American English
- The pairing process failed; try restarting both devices.
- Check the pairing instructions in the user manual.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to strategic partnerships, mentor-mentee programmes, or collaborative teams. 'The pairing of our marketing and design departments increased productivity.'
Academic
Used in experimental design (pairing subjects), linguistics (word pairing), or collaborative learning. 'The study involved the pairing of control and test groups.'
Everyday
Common in social arrangements, cooking, and device setup. 'Let me help you with the pairing of your new headphones to your phone.'
Technical
Central in computing (network pairing), electronics, and genetics. 'Secure device pairing requires cryptographic key exchange.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “pairing”
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “pairing”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pairing”
- Using 'pairing' as a verb (the verb is 'to pair'). Incorrect: 'I am pairing them together.' Correct: 'I am pairing them.' or 'The pairing of them is complete.'
- Confusing 'pairing' (act/result) with 'pair' (the two items).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, it implies a duo. While you can 'pair up' into multiple pairs, 'pairing' itself refers to creating individual sets of two.
'Matching' focuses on similarity or equivalence (matching socks). 'Pairing' focuses on the act of creating a functional or complementary unit, which may involve similar or contrasting items (pairing wine with food).
No, 'pairing' is a noun or adjective (the pairing process). The verb is 'to pair' (I will pair you with a partner).
It is neutral. It's appropriate in casual conversation ('phone pairing') and formal writing ('strategic pairing of resources'). Its register depends on the context.
The act or process of putting two people or things together to form a pair, or the state of being so joined.
Pairing: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpeə.rɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈper.ɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Odd pairing”
- “Pairing off”
- “A marriage made in heaven (as a successful pairing)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine two PEARS forming a PAIR. Pairing is the action of making that 'pair of pears'.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONNECTION IS PAIRING (e.g., 'pairing ideas'), COMPATIBILITY IS A GOOD PAIR (e.g., 'perfect pairing'), ISOLATION IS A LACK OF PAIRING.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'pairing' LEAST likely to be used?