Meaning & use
choking
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“choking” is a form of “choke”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbintransitive
Being unable to breathe properly because something blocks or presses on the throat.
Grammar: -ing form of choke; often followed by on: choking on a bone.
Patterns
- choking on something
The toddler was choking on a grape until his father helped him.
She was choking and coughing after breathing in the smoke.
Waiters are trained to help diners who are choking.
verbintransitiveinformal
Failing to perform well at an important moment because you are nervous or under pressure.
Grammar: Informal, especially in sport: the team is choking.
Patterns
- choking under pressure
The favorite was choking badly in the final set.
He keeps choking at job interviews.
verbtransitivefigurative
Blocking or filling a space so that movement or growth is difficult.
Grammar: Takes an object: weeds are choking the pond.
Patterns
- choking something with something
Weeds were choking the stream.
Traffic is choking the city center.
adjectivebefore a noun
Making it hard to breathe, as with thick smoke or dust.
Grammar: Used before a noun: choking smoke.
Patterns
- choking smoke
Choking smoke filled the corridor.
They walked through a choking cloud of dust.
Word forms
| base form | choke |
|---|---|
| third person singular | chokes |
| past tense | choked |
| past participle | choked |
Common combinations
- choking hazard
- Small toys are a choking hazard for babies.
- choking on
- He was choking on a piece of meat.
- choking fumes
- Choking fumes poured from the exhaust.
- choking under pressure
- She's been choking under pressure all season.
- choking back tears
- Choking back tears, he thanked the crowd.
Synonyms and how they differ
- suffocating
- Suffocating means not getting enough air from any cause, whereas choking usually points to a blocked throat.
- gagging
- Gagging describes a reflex of the throat, often with nausea, while choking blocks breathing.
- stifling
- Stifling is mostly used for heat or air that is too close, rather than a blocked airway.
- cracking
- Cracking under pressure is similar to choking in a sport, though cracking suggests a full breakdown.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: choking or chocking?
choking vs chocking
Chocking means wedging a wheel, so do not use it for breathing problems.
Practice
The baby was ___ on a small toy, so the nurse acted quickly.
Choose one answer.
Choking on means being blocked in the throat. The other words are real but do not suit the sentence.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “choking”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.