cringing

1. 1
   verb

   Present participle and gerund of cringe.

   She was cringing visibly as the awkward speech dragged on.

   Cringing in anticipation of the blow, the boy covered his face.

   Note

   One spelling does two jobs. After a form of be it is the progressive (she was cringing), and in noun positions it is the gerund (cringing never helps). It also describes, as in a cringing manner. Because cringe covers both flinching and servile bowing, the context decides which is meant: cringing at a joke is embarrassment, while cringing before a master is servility.

2. 2
   noununcountable

   The act of shrinking back or flinching in fear, or of behaving in an excessively humble, servile way.

   His endless cringing before his superiors disgusted his colleagues.

   The new recruit's cringing at every shout from the sergeant only drew more shouting.

   Similargroveling, fawning, flinching

   Note

   A countable noun for the acts themselves, so it can be counted and made plural: the servile bowings and cringings of courtiers. Paired with bowings, it leans toward abasement rather than fear. The plural is the clearest sign that it has become a true noun rather than the gerund of cringe, which never takes an -s.

Showing meanings only. Show all 2