Meaning & use
pointing
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“pointing” is a form of “point”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
The -ing form of point: directing a finger or object toward someone or something to show where it is.
Grammar: No object when you just gesture, and followed by at or to when you aim: pointing at the sign.
Patterns
- pointing at something
- pointing to something
The child was pointing at the balloons across the street.
She kept pointing to the map as she explained the route.
He was pointing a flashlight into the dark corner.
noununcountable
The act of directing a finger or object toward something.
Grammar: Used as a name for the action: pointing is rude in some cultures.
Patterns
- stop pointing
Pointing at strangers is considered impolite by many people.
Her constant pointing made it clear which one she wanted.
The dog's pointing at the bird showed the hunter where it was hiding.
noununcountablespecialist
The mortar filling the joints between bricks or stones in a wall, or the work of repairing it.
Grammar: A building term, used without an article.
Patterns
- repair the pointing
The old wall needed fresh pointing to stop water getting in.
A builder charged us a fair price for repointing, which is another name for redoing the pointing.
The pointing between the bricks had crumbled in the winter frost.
Common combinations
- pointing finger
- He felt every pointing finger in the room.
- pointing at
- Stop pointing at people.
- pointing out
- She was pointing out the best parts of the old town.
- pointing in the right direction
- The sign was pointing in the right direction.
- pointing the way
- A friendly guard stood pointing the way to the exit.
- pointing a finger at
- They are pointing a finger at the manager for the mistake.
Synonyms and how they differ
- gesturing
- Gesturing is broader and can use any part of the body, while pointing uses a finger or object to show a particular spot.
- indicating
- Indicating is more formal and need not involve a hand movement, while pointing is the physical gesture.
- aiming
- Aiming suggests lining something up with a target, such as a camera, while pointing simply directs toward it.
Word family
Commonly confused: pointing or pointless?
pointing vs pointless
Pointless means having no purpose, while pointing is the action of showing something with a finger.
Practice
The tourist kept ___ at the castle on the hill.
Choose one answer.
After kept the correct form is the -ing form, so kept pointing is right. Pointed is the tempting past form, but it does not follow kept.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “pointing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.