Pounding
ˈpaʊndɪŋ
Definitions
3 meaningsTo strike or hit something repeatedly and forcefully.
ˈpaʊndɪŋ
To hit or strike repeatedly and forcefully.
The rain was pounding against the window all night.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're really mad at a pillow and keep hitting it hard. That's pounding! It's like a strong, repeated hit.
👶 For kids: To hit something over and over really hard.
More Examples
He was pounding on the door, desperate to be let in.
Her heart was pounding in her chest with excitement.
How It's Used
"Runners often experience a pounding heart during a race."
"The construction workers were pounding the nails into the wood."
To crush or grind something, typically to make it smaller or change its form.
ˈpaʊndɪŋ
To crush or grind something into a powder or paste.
She was pounding garlic in a mortar and pestle.
💡 Simply: Imagine you are smashing something to make it into tiny pieces or powder. That's like pounding ingredients in a kitchen.
👶 For kids: To smash something until it turns into small pieces or dust.
More Examples
They were pounding rocks to create a path.
How It's Used
"She was pounding the spices in a mortar and pestle."
"Researchers were pounding the earth, searching for artifacts."
A repeated and forceful striking or impact.
ˈpaʊndɪŋ
A strong, repeated impact or striking.
The pounding of the rain made it hard to sleep.
💡 Simply: When something is hitting something else hard over and over again. Like the sound of a drum or rain on a roof.
👶 For kids: When something is hitting something else really hard many times.
More Examples
The soldiers endured hours of pounding from the enemy.
The relentless pounding of the waves eroded the coastline.
How It's Used
"The pounding of the waves against the shore was relentless."
"The boxer took the pounding from his opponent."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
Pound the pavement
To walk the streets looking for something, especially a job or to make sales.
"After losing his job, he had to pound the pavement for weeks to find another one."
From Middle English pounden, from Old English pūnian (“to pound, beat, crush”), from Proto-Germanic *pūnąną. Related to German Pochen (to knock, tap).
The word has been used since Old English, and the verb 'pound' shows up in historical texts describing the force used to break materials for recipes or making medicines. The use of pounding to describe emotion, such as a pounding heart, is also common throughout history.
Memory tip
Think of a baker pounding dough – the repetitive, forceful action.