Hoarding
/ˈhɔːrdɪŋ/
Definitions
3 meaningsThe act of accumulating and storing things, often secretly and beyond what is needed.
/ˈhɔːrdɪŋ/
The act of accumulating something, typically in a secret or guarded place.
The police found evidence of hoarding in the suspect's apartment.
💡 Simply: It's like when someone collects a lot of stuff and can't throw anything away, even if they don't need it. Think of someone keeping dozens of old newspapers even though they're just taking up space.
👶 For kids: Keeping lots and lots of things that you don't really need.
More Examples
Her hoarding of old magazines created a fire hazard.
He had to address his problem with hoarding to get his life back on track.
How It's Used
"Compulsive hoarding can be a symptom of an underlying mental health condition."
"The house was filled with the results of years of hoarding."
The act of accumulating and storing things, often secretly and beyond what is needed.
/ˈhɔːrdɪŋ/
The action of accumulating something, typically in a secret or guarded place.
During the pandemic, people were accused of hoarding essential supplies.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone buying up all the toilet paper during a crisis because they're worried they won't have enough. That's hoarding – collecting way more than you need and keeping it all to yourself.
👶 For kids: Keeping lots and lots of things that you don't really need.
More Examples
The company was accused of hoarding profits instead of investing in its workers.
She hoarded information from her colleagues.
How It's Used
"During the crisis people started hoarding food and water."
"He was accused of hoarding wealth."
A temporary barrier, usually made of wood or metal, used to enclose a construction site or display advertisements.
/ˈhɔːrdɪŋ/
A barrier to prevent access.
The builders erected hoardings around the construction site.
💡 Simply: It's like a temporary fence you see around a construction site. They use it to keep people out and sometimes for ads too!
👶 For kids: A big wall that keeps people away or shows pictures.
More Examples
The new advertising hoardings will display the company's latest products.
They painted murals on the hoardings.
How It's Used
"The construction site was surrounded by hoarding."
"The advertising hoardings were being set up."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
hoard of wealth
A large collection of money or valuables.
"The family amassed a large hoard of wealth through generations of investment."
From Middle English *hordynge*, from Old English *hordian* ("to hoard") + -ing. Cognate with Dutch *horten* ("to hoard") and German *horten* ("to hoard").
The term 'hoarding' has existed for centuries, originally referring to the act of storing goods or money, evolving to encompass both practical accumulation and, later, pathological accumulation as a mental health concern.
Memory tip
Imagine a squirrel burying nuts – but on a much larger, less sensible scale.
Word Origin
"to store"