DictionaryAI

spelling

SPEL-ing/ˈspɛlɪŋ/

Pluralspellings (some meanings)

6 meanings of spelling

Practice

  1. 1
    noununcountable
    The skill or activity of forming words with the correct letters.

    Like putting the right blocks in the right order to build a word.

    Good spelling makes your writing much easier to read.

    She practices her spelling for a few minutes every day.

    Similarorthography

    Note
  2. 2
    nouncountable
    One particular way of writing a word with letters.

    Like two different ways to write the same name.

    The American spelling of 'color' has no 'u' in it.

    British and American spellings often differ by just one letter.

    Similarform, rendering, version, variant

    Note
  3. 3
    noununcountable
    The correct way of forming words from their letters.

    Check your spelling before you hand in the test.

    His spelling is excellent for someone his age.

    Similarorthography

    Note
  4. 4
    verb
    Present participle of spell. Use this form for the action happening now.

    She is spelling her name slowly for the receptionist.

    The teacher is spelling out each tricky word for the class.

    Note
  5. 5
    nouncountable or uncountable
    The choice of which name to write for a musical note that can be named in more than one way.

    Like choosing between 'to' and 'too' when both sound exactly the same.

    The composer changed the spelling to make the music easier to read.

    In this key, the correct spelling uses sharps instead of flats.

    Similarnotation

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 6
    noundatedUScountable or uncountable
    A school contest or test to see who can spell words correctly.

    Like a quiz where you try to get every word right.

    The whole class stayed late for the Friday spelling.

    The boys were anxious for a spelling in the evening but I said no.
    1860, Oscar Lawrence Jackson, The Colonel's Diary: Journals Kept Before and During the Civil War [1922]Here, spelling means a spelling contest, like a spelling bee.

    Similarbee, spelldown

    Note

spelling is a form of spell

spell, verb: To say or write the letters of a word in the right order. Full entry

Forms
spellspells he/she/itspelling -ing formspelled past tense, past participle
Spelling
spell → spelling: add -ing

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of spelling apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

This word comes from the verb "spell" plus "-ing." It began in the 1400s.