Meaning & use
linking
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“linking” is a form of “link”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
noununcountable
The act of connecting two or more things, people, or places.
Grammar: Uncountable; often used before another noun, as in 'linking word'.
Patterns
- the linking of something
- linking between something
The linking of the two towns by a new bridge changed the local economy.
Effective linking of ideas makes an essay easier to follow.
The linking of customer records raised privacy concerns.
adjectivebefore a nountechnical
In grammar, describing a verb such as 'be' or 'seem' that joins a subject to a description of it.
Grammar: Used before a noun: 'a linking verb'. The verb itself is usually called a copula in technical writing.
Patterns
- linking verb
- linking word
In 'She became angry', 'became' is a linking verb.
'Seem' and 'appear' are common linking verbs in academic writing.
The teacher asked us to underline every linking verb in the paragraph.
verbtransitive or intransitive
Present participle of 'link'; connecting or joining things together.
Grammar: As a participle it can take an object ('linking the files') or be used after 'be' ('the files are linking').
Patterns
- linking something to something
- linking up with someone
The software is linking the two databases automatically.
They are linking the new rail line to the airport.
The teams are linking up for the final stage of the project.
Word forms
| base form | link |
|---|---|
| third person singular | links |
| past tense | linked |
| past participle | linked |
| -ing form | linking |
Common combinations
- linking verb
- 'Be' is the most common linking verb in English.
- linking word
- Use a linking word such as 'however' to connect contrasting ideas.
- linking up
- The two companies are linking up to develop a new app.
- linking something to something
- They are linking the payment system to the bank's network.
Synonyms and how they differ
- connecting
- More general and used for physical or logical joins; 'linking' is especially common in grammar terms.
- joining
- Focuses on bringing things together into one; 'linking' often suggests a relationship rather than a physical merge.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: linking or linkage?
linking vs linkage
Linkage is a noun meaning a connection or system of connections; 'linking' is the -ing form of the verb or an adjective in grammar terms.
Practice
Which word is a linking verb in the sentence 'The soup tastes salty'?
Choose one answer.
'Tastes' connects the subject 'soup' with the description 'salty', so it is a linking verb. 'Salty' is the complement, not the verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “linking”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.