Meaning & use
viewing
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Meanings
nouncountableBritish
An appointment to look around a property that is for sale or rent.
Grammar: Often used with arrange or attend: arrange a viewing.
Patterns
- arrange a viewing
- a viewing of something
We have a viewing of the flat on Saturday morning.
The agent can arrange a viewing at short notice.
After three viewings, they made an offer.
noununcountable
The act of watching a film, television program or show.
Grammar: Also countable for a showing: a late viewing.
Patterns
- family viewing
- viewing figures
The documentary makes compelling viewing.
The film is not suitable for family viewing.
Viewing figures for the final were the highest of the year.
nouncountable
An occasion when people look at something on display, such as an art exhibit or a body before a funeral.
Grammar: Often written as a viewing of; for funerals, in American English it is called a wake or visitation.
Patterns
- a private viewing
- a viewing of something
The gallery holds a private viewing before the exhibition opens.
Friends came to the viewing to say goodbye.
Visitors can attend a public viewing of the manuscripts.
Word forms
| plural | viewings |
|---|
Common combinations
- arrange a viewing
- I'd like to arrange a viewing of the apartment.
- a private viewing
- The artist offered us a private viewing.
- viewing figures
- The new series had strong viewing figures.
- available for viewing
- The painting is available for viewing by appointment.
- compulsive viewing
- The series was compulsive viewing for the whole family.
- a public viewing
- The museum announced a public viewing of the new collection.
Synonyms and how they differ
- showing
- Showing is closer to an event where something is shown, while viewing emphasizes the person looking.
- inspection
- Inspection suggests checking something carefully for faults, whereas viewing is a simple look around.
- screening
- Screening applies only to films or tests, but viewing is broader.
- exhibition
- An exhibition is a public display organized for many visitors, while a viewing may be for a single person or small group.
Word family
Commonly confused: viewing or reviewing?
viewing vs reviewing
Reviewing means looking at something again or judging it in writing, while viewing is simply looking, such as at a house or a program.
Practice
The estate agent called to arrange a ______ of the cottage for Friday afternoon.
Choose one answer.
A viewing is an appointment to look around a property. A review is a second look or critique, a preview is an advance showing, and a viewer is a person.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “viewing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.