Finesentence

Kidding Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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kidding

kid-ding

🇺🇸 /ˈkɪdɪŋ/ · 🇬🇧 /kˈɪdɪŋ/

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

joking manner

Kidding refers to the act of making a joke or playful remark. It implies that the speaker is not being serious and is often used to lighten the mood in conversation.

Synonyms

fooling, joking, pranking, teasing.

Examples of usage

  • I was just kidding when I said I would jump off the roof.
  • Are you kidding me? That was an amazing performance!
  • I thought you were serious, but now I see you were kidding.
  • He's always kidding around with his friends.
  • Stop kidding! I can't take you seriously now.

Translations

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Quick facts about “kidding”

Kidding is a 2-syllable verb (kid-ding). It is pronounced /ˈkɪdɪŋ/ in American English and /kˈɪdɪŋ/ in British English. On finesentence.com it has 1 meaning, 4 synonyms, and translations into 21 languages. It ranks #14,607 among the most common English words.

Origin of 'kidding'

The word 'kidding' originated from the late 19th century in American English. It is derived from the verb 'kid', which was originally used in the sense of 'to tease or make fun of someone.' The roots of the term can be traced back to the mean 'to make fun or joke about.' The use of 'kid' as a verb appeared in the late 1800s and has since evolved into the more commonly used 'kidding.' The playful connotation has made it a popular term in casual conversation, especially among friends and in informal contexts.

Rhymes

Kidding rhymes with bidding, forbidding, skidding and ridding.

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Word Frequency Rank

At position #14,607, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.