Meaning & use
joking
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“joking” is a form of “joke”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbintransitive
The -ing form of joke: saying or doing something to be funny rather than serious.
Grammar: No object; often followed by about or with: joking about it.
Patterns
- joking about something
- joking with someone
He was joking when he said he would quit.
They kept joking about the burnt toast.
Are you joking with me?
adjectivebefore a noun
Meant playfully and not seriously.
Grammar: Before a noun: a joking tone.
Patterns
- a joking tone
- in a joking way
She said it in a joking tone.
The joking remarks eased the tension.
He gave a joking salute.
noununcountable
The activity of telling jokes and teasing, often in the phrase joking apart.
Grammar: Uncountable: no joking.
Patterns
- joking apart
- no joking
Joking aside, we need to leave.
There was a lot of joking at dinner.
No joking, I really won the prize.
Word forms
| base form | joke |
|---|---|
| third person singular | jokes |
| past tense | joked |
Common combinations
- joking aside
- Joking aside, thank you for your help.
- only joking
- I was only joking about the test.
- no joking
- No joking, the bus left already.
- joking around
- The kids were joking around in the back.
- joking tone
- He said it in a joking tone.
Synonyms and how they differ
- kidding
- Kidding is more informal and common in American speech than joking.
- teasing
- Teasing involves poking fun at someone, while joking may have no target.
- jesting
- Jesting is old-fashioned and literary compared with joking.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: joking or choking?
joking vs choking
Choking means being unable to breathe; it only sounds similar.
Practice
"Are you ____? I thought you were serious!"
Choose one answer.
Joking fits a surprised reaction to something not meant seriously. Choking, poking and hoping change the meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “joking”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.