Meaning & use
faxing
Last updated
“faxing” is a form of “fax”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
The present participle of fax: sending a copy of a document over a telephone line.
Grammar: Can take an object (fax a letter) or be used without one (I'm faxing now).
Patterns
- faxing something
- faxing someone something
- faxing something to someone
She is faxing the signed contract to the client right now.
We spent the morning faxing documents to the head office.
Faxing is less common now that email is so widely used.
noununcountable
The activity or process of sending documents by fax.
Grammar: Uncountable when it means the activity; 'a faxing' is not standard.
Patterns
- the faxing of something
Faxing has largely been replaced by email.
The faxing of medical records must follow privacy rules.
Common combinations
- faxing documents
- He is busy faxing documents to the bank.
- faxing machine
- The faxing machine in the office is broken.
- stop faxing
- Please stop faxing us; send an email instead.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sending
- More general; 'faxing' specifically means sending by fax machine.
- transmitting
- More formal and general; used for any signal or message, not just faxes.
Word family
Commonly confused: faxing or facts?
faxing vs facts
Sounds similar but means pieces of information, not sending documents.
Practice
She is ______ the report to the manager right now.
Choose one answer.
The present continuous 'is faxing' describes an action happening now. 'Fax' would need 'is' + base form? No, 'is fax' is wrong; 'faxed' is past; 'faxes' is third-person singular, not used after 'is'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “faxing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.