a viewing

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   An occasion when you look around a house or other property because you may want to buy or rent it.

   Grammar: Countable: say 'a viewing', 'the viewing', or 'several viewings'.

   Patterns

   • go to a viewing
   • arrange a viewing
   • a viewing of a house

   We have a viewing at the apartment on Saturday morning.

   The estate agent arranged three viewings for us.

   After the viewing, they decided to make an offer.

2. 2nouncountable

   An occasion when people watch something, such as a film, a ceremony, or a body before a funeral.

   Grammar: Countable: often used with 'of' to say what is watched.

   Patterns

   • a viewing of something
   • attend a viewing
   • a private viewing

   The gallery is holding a private viewing of the new paintings.

   There will be a viewing of the body before the funeral.

   Millions watched the live viewing of the launch.

Word forms

Common combinations

arrange a viewing

Please call the office to arrange a viewing.

go to a viewing

We are going to a viewing this afternoon.

a private viewing

The museum offered a private viewing for members.

a viewing of the house

The viewing of the house lasted about thirty minutes.

Synonyms and how they differ

visit

A visit is a more general word for going to see a place or person; a viewing is specifically for looking at something with interest.

screening

A screening is used mainly for films; a viewing can be for films, houses, or ceremonies.

showing

A showing is similar for films or art, but a viewing is more common for houses.

Word family

view verb

To look at or watch something, especially a house or a program.

viewer noun

A person who watches something, such as television.

Commonly confused: a viewing or view?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “a viewing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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