gardening

1 of 2

noun

gar·​den·​ing ˈgär-də-niŋ How to pronounce gardening (audio)
ˈgärd-niŋ
Synonyms of gardeningnext
: the act, activity, or pastime of planning and cultivating gardens
… America's number-one leisure pursuit remains the gentle, slow-going, idyllic activity of gardening.—Margaret Langstaff
… there is no shortage this spring of slick and glossy books on gardening that are long on toothsome photography and short of thoughtful text …—Allen Lacy
Halide lamps are the most popular source of white light available for indoor gardening, providing the best light spectrum for all stages of plant growth.—Laura L. Kramer
—often used before another noun
gardening gloves
gardening tools

gardening

2 of 2

present participle of garden entry 2

Examples of gardening in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Many people discovered it during COVID when outdoor experiences and gardening (the farm gives away compost) were safe activities. — Lisa Hughes, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 Home Harvest is the latest contender in this indoor smart garden space, with two appliances designed to turn microgreens, herbs, and salads into something halfway between a countertop convenience and a gardening project. — New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2026 Attorneys for the plaintiffs in both cases argue that Congress could ban a broad array of activities inside private homes — including cooking, gardening and remote work — under the government’s interpretation of the 19th century law. — Michael Kunzelman, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026 Many of the books are tailored toward activities and hobbies, such as gardening, wine cellars, recipes and sports. — David Moin, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gardening

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gardening was in the 15th century

Rhymes for gardening

See All Rhymes for gardening

Browse Nearby Words

gardenia
gardening
gardenize
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gardening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gardening. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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