Meaning & use
servicing
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“servicing” is a form of “service”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
the present participle of 'service', meaning the act of checking and repairing a machine or vehicle.
Grammar: As a verb, it can take an object (service a car) or be used without one (the car needs servicing).
Patterns
- servicing a car
- servicing a machine
- needs servicing
He is servicing the car in the garage.
The elevator requires regular servicing.
They are servicing the air conditioners before summer.
noununcountable
the act of maintaining or repairing equipment, vehicles, or machines.
Grammar: Uncountable; used without 'a' or 'an'.
Patterns
- regular servicing
- servicing costs
- servicing schedule
Regular servicing can extend the life of your boiler.
The servicing of the aircraft is done every 500 hours.
They offer free servicing for the first year.
Word forms
| third person singular | services |
|---|---|
| past tense | serviced |
| past participle | serviced |
| present participle | servicing |
Common combinations
- regular servicing
- Regular servicing keeps the machine running smoothly.
- servicing costs
- The servicing costs for the car were higher than expected.
- servicing schedule
- Check the servicing schedule in the manual.
- due for servicing
- The printer is due for servicing next week.
Synonyms and how they differ
- maintenance
- Maintenance is a broader term for keeping something in good condition; servicing specifically refers to routine checks and repairs.
- repair
- Repair focuses on fixing something that is broken, while servicing is about regular upkeep to prevent problems.
Opposites
Word family
- service verb
- to check and repair a machine or vehicle
- service noun
- the act of helping customers or maintaining equipment
- serviceable adjective
- able to be used or repaired
Commonly confused: servicing or serving?
servicing vs serving
Serving means giving food or helping customers, while servicing means maintaining or repairing equipment.
Practice
The car is due for ______ next month.
Choose one answer.
Servicing is the correct -ing form here, as it follows 'due for' and refers to the maintenance of the car. 'Serving' means giving food, 'service' is the base form and would not fit after 'due for' in this way, and 'serviced' is the past tense, which does not fit the sentence structure.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “servicing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.