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Definition of pairing

pairing

/ˈpɛr.ɪŋ/
pair · ing
Plural:pairings
•
Past Simple:paired
•
Past Participle:paired
•
Present Participle:pairing
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pairing Lexical Profile

pairing Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The action or process of bringing two people or things together to form a pair, or the resulting combination.

Example

"The tournament director announced the first-round pairings for the chess championship."

2

A curated combination of food and drink chosen to complement each other's flavors.

Example

"The sommelier recommended a crisp white wine pairing for the seafood course."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for pairing
Antonyms
View all antonyms for pairing

• verb

1

To join, connect, or arrange in pairs (present participle of pair).

Example

"The teacher is pairing the new students with experienced mentors for the semester."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for pairing
Antonyms
View all antonyms for pairing

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse 'pairing' (putting two things together) with the homophone 'paring' (trimming away the outer edge or skin of something, as with a paring knife).

• Rhymes for pairing

• Nearby Words

paintwork
pair
pairable
pairing
paisley
pajama
pajama cardinalfish

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Pairing. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/pairing
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