Gaming means: The playing of a game.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up. For most families this word will pass by without incident; it is more a vocabulary curiosity than a parenting concern.
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Careful, strategic use of rules to achieve one's purposes, as one would use the rules of a game.
The US gaming industry, in a pamphlet called Demystifying Slot Machines […], argues that "slot manufacturers need to build devices for a society with a decreasing attention span and an increasing demand for exciting, fast-paced en…
"gaming" means: Careful, strategic use of rules to achieve one's purposes, as one would use the rules of a game.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
"gaming" means: Careful, strategic use of rules to achieve one's purposes, as one would use the rules of a game.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.
“now your mobile gaming hobby is actually”
“phone gaming anyway, you might as well”
“like that it makes gaming feel more”
“like that it makes gaming feel more”
“now your mobile gaming hobby is actually”
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“phone gaming anyway, you might as well”
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Show 1 more dictionary-style sense (imported)
The playing of a game.
Gaming means: The playing of a game.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up. For most families this word will pass by without incident; it is more a vocabulary curiosity than a parenting concern.
gaming means: The playing of a game.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Viral internet speak — memes, ratios, main-character moments, and the algospeak of every platform from Twitter to Reddit to TikTok comment sections.
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Other words near "gaming" (G)
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Semantically related
- game out71%
(slang) To play games to such an excessive degree that one is unwilling to play more.
- gameplay71%
The actual moment-to-moment interactive experience of a video game, as opposed to cutscenes or graphics.
- binge-play67%
(slang) To play a game for an excessive period of time.
- play67%
(transitive, intransitive) To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game).