Meaning & use

processing

noun·Everyday

The series of actions taken to prepare, handle, or transform something, such as data, materials, or applications.

See it in a sentence

The bank's processing of loan applications now takes only three business days on average.

Food processing involves washing, cutting, and packaging ingredients before they reach store shelves.

A note on using this word

Processing is often paired with a noun that names the material handled, as in data processing or word processing.

Words with a similar meaning

handlingpreparation

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. verb

Handling or dealing with something according to a set procedure, often as an ongoing action.

The clerk is processing the refund now, so the payment should appear within a week.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “processing”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.