DictionaryAI

meeting

SayMEE-ting/ˈmitɪŋ/UK/ˈmiːtɪŋ/

Pluralmeetings

8 meanings of meeting

Practice

  1. 1
    gatheringnouncountable
    A time when people come together for a reason, often to talk or decide things, or the people who come to it.

    The teacher called a meeting with the parents after school.

    Our club holds its meetings every Friday afternoon.

    UsageSay have a meeting about something, and be in a meeting with someone.

    Note
  2. 2
    verb
    Present participle and gerund of meet. Use it after 'is' or 'are' for actions happening now.

    She is meeting her friend at the park today.

    Meeting new people can be hard at first.

    Note
  3. 3
    encounternouncountable
    A moment when people come face to face, even if they did not plan it.

    Their first meeting happened by accident at the bus stop.

    He still talks about his short meeting with the famous singer years ago.

    UsagePeople often say a chance meeting or a first meeting.

    Similarencounter

  4. 4
    encounternoununcountable
    The act of coming together, by people or by things.

    The meeting of their eyes told her everything.

    You can feel the meeting of warm and cold air before a storm.

    UsageSay the meeting of two things.

    Similarconvergence, union

    Oppositeparting, separation

  5. 5
    nouncountable
    A place where two or more things, such as rivers or roads, come together or cross.

    The town was built at the meeting of two big rivers.

    Our house stands near the meeting of the old road and the new highway.

    Similarjunction, confluence, intersection

Less common meanings

  1. 6
    sports eventnounUKcountablebritish
    A sports event with a number of races or contests, often for runners or for horses.

    Our school is holding its athletics meeting next Saturday.

    Thousands of people went to the race meeting to watch the horses.

    UsageSay an athletics meeting or a race meeting. In the US people say a meet.

    Similarevent

  2. 7
    church servicenoundatedcountable
    A church service led by an exciting preacher, once common in small American towns.

    The whole town went to the meeting to hear the traveling preacher.

    You use ta give a good meetin'. I recollect one time you give a whole sermon walkin' around on your hands, yellin' your head off.
    1939, John Steinbeck, The Grapes of WrathHere, meetin' means a religious service led by a lively preacher.

    UsageFor a church event today, say service.

    Similarrevival

    Note
  3. 8
    noun
    A group of Quakers that forms one official part of their church community.

meeting is a form of meet

meet, verb: To see and get to know someone for the first time. Full entry

Forms
meetmeets he/she/itmeeting -ing formmet past tense, past participle
Spelling
meet → meeting: add -ing

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1, 3–7

From an Old English word meaning "meeting" or "assembly," made from "meet" plus "-ing."

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

  • Meeting comes from an Old English word meaning meeting or assembly. en.wiktionary.org
  • The Old English formation combines the verb meaning meet with -ing. en.wiktionary.org
Meaning 2

From an Old English form of "meet" (the present participle, mētende). Today it looks like "meet" plus "-ing."