Cambridge Dictionaries online Cambridge Dictionaries online

The most popular online dictionary and thesaurus for learners of English

  

present participle

noun [C]
 
 

Definition

a form of a verb that in English ends in '-ing' and comes after another verb to show continuous action. It is used to form the present continuous.: In the sentences 'The children are watching television', 'The weather is getting colder' and 'I heard him singing', 'watching', 'getting' and 'singing' are present participles.Verb forms, tenses and types of verbs
(Definition of present participle noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“present participle” in other dictionaries

Word of the Day

throw caution to the wind/winds

to do something without worrying about the risk or negative results

Word of the Day

Blog

Read our blog about how the English language behaves.

Learn More

New Words

Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.

Learn More