Meaning & use
tidings
Last updated
UK/ˈtaɪdɪŋz/
US/ˈtaɪdɪŋz/
Meaning
nounplural
News or information about recent events, especially when announced formally.
Grammar: Always plural; takes a plural verb: The tidings are good.
Patterns
- tidings of something
- good tidings
- glad tidings
The messenger brought tidings of a great victory.
We received glad tidings that the war had ended.
She ran to share the good tidings with her family.
Common combinations
- glad tidings
- The choir sang about glad tidings of comfort and joy.
- good tidings
- He brought good tidings from the capital.
- tidings of great joy
- The angel announced tidings of great joy.
- bring tidings
- The messenger brought tidings of the king's arrival.
Synonyms and how they differ
- news
- The everyday word for recent information; 'tidings' is old-fashioned and sounds literary or formal.
- information
- A general word for facts or details; 'tidings' specifically suggests news that is announced.
Word family
- tiding noun
- Rare singular form; now almost always used in the plural 'tidings'.
Commonly confused: tidings or tiding?
tidings vs tiding
The singular 'tiding' is rarely used; the plural 'tidings' is the standard form.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'tidings' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Tidings' is always plural and takes a plural verb, so 'were' is correct. 'Tiding' is not used in the singular, and 'was' or 'is' would be singular verbs.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “tidings”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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