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Meaning & use

teetotaling

adjective, noun·Advanced

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UK/ˌtiːˈtəʊtəlɪŋ/
US/ˌtiːˈtoʊtəlɪŋ/

“teetotaling” is a form of “teetotal”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. adjectivebefore a noun

    Never drinking alcohol; choosing to avoid all alcoholic drinks.

    Grammar: Used before a noun: a teetotaling lifestyle. Also used after linking verbs: He is teetotaling.

    Patterns

    • teetotaling person
    • teetotaling lifestyle

    My teetotaling uncle always orders sparkling water at parties.

    She leads a teetotaling life and has never touched a drop of alcohol.

  2. noununcountableinformal

    The practice or habit of never drinking alcohol.

    Grammar: Uncountable; used mainly in informal or humorous contexts.

    Patterns

    • practice teetotaling
    • believe in teetotaling

    Teetotaling is easy for me because I dislike the taste of beer.

    His doctor recommended teetotaling for a few months.

Common combinations

strictly teetotaling
He is strictly teetotaling and refuses even a sip of wine.
teetotaling family
She grew up in a teetotaling family, so alcohol was never in the house.
go teetotaling
After the health scare, he decided to go teetotaling.
teetotaling for years
She has been teetotaling for years and feels much healthier.

Synonyms and how they differ

abstinent
More formal and can refer to avoiding other things too, not just alcohol.
sober
Often means not drunk right now, rather than never drinking at all.
dry
Used in phrases like 'a dry wedding' to mean no alcohol is served, but it can also mean other things.

Opposites

drinkingalcoholic

Word family

teetotal adjective
Same meaning, but the form without -ing is the base adjective.
teetotaler noun
A person who never drinks alcohol.
teetotalism noun
The principle or practice of never drinking alcohol.

Commonly confused: teetotaling or total?

teetotaling vs total

Teetotaling includes the idea of 'total' but means complete abstinence from alcohol, not just a sum.

Practice

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