Meaning & use
pampering
Last updated
“pampering” is a form of “pamper”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
noununcountable
Treatment that makes someone feel relaxed and cared for, such as massages, spa visits or special attention.
Grammar: Uncountable: she needs some pampering. Adding a session or day makes it countable.
Patterns
- a pampering session
- some pampering
After the exam week, she booked a day of pampering at the spa.
He needed some pampering after a long flight.
The hotel offers pampering for guests in the evening.
verbtransitive
The -ing form of pamper: giving someone very kind, generous treatment, sometimes too much.
Grammar: Takes an object: she is pampering her cat.
Patterns
- pampering someone
- pampering yourself
He is pampering his guests with fresh pastries.
They keep pampering the dog with treats.
She spent the weekend pampering herself.
adjectivebefore a noun
Designed to make you feel relaxed and special, or treating someone with excessive kindness.
Grammar: Appears before a noun: a pampering treatment.
Patterns
- a pampering something
The spa offers a pampering facial.
She enjoyed a pampering evening with candles and music.
Their pampering attitude spoiled the children.
Word forms
| base verb | pamper |
|---|---|
| third person singular | pampers |
| past tense | pampered |
| -ing form | pampering |
Common combinations
- pampering session
- The friends booked a pampering session.
- pampering day
- She planned a pampering day for her mother.
- pampering treatment
- The hotel offers a pampering treatment with hot stones.
- some pampering
- After surgery, she deserved some pampering.
- pampering yourself
- Pampering yourself does not need to be expensive.
Synonyms and how they differ
- spoiling
- Has a more negative tone when applied to children and suggests too much indulgence.
- indulgence
- Focuses on giving in to pleasure and can be self-directed or critical.
- coddling
- Suggests overprotective care that may weaken a person, so it is more critical.
- treating
- Is a neutral word for giving someone something nice, with less emphasis on care.
Opposites
Word family
- pamper verb
- to treat someone with great kindness and luxury
- pampered adjective
- treated very well, sometimes too well
- pamperer noun
- someone who pampers others, rare
Commonly confused: pampering or pandering?
pampering vs pandering
Pandering means giving in to people's weaknesses or prejudices to gain favor; pampering means treating someone with luxurious care.
Practice
The hotel's wellness package includes a massage and a facial, offering plenty of ____.
Choose one answer.
Pampering means relaxing, caring treatment. Pandering sounds similar but refers to catering to bad tastes to win favor.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “pampering”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.