3 syllables: ex, it, ing. Stress on ex.
/ˈɛɡzɪtɪŋ/
Say it backExiting is the act of leaving or going out, typically from a place or situation. As an adjective or participle, it describes something that is leaving or newly leaving; as a verb form, it functions in phrases like 'exiting the building.' The term emphasizes departure in a moment or process, and it often carries a sense of movement through an opening or threshold. In practice, it can describe people, doors, events, or behaviors related to departure.
"The exiting student paused at the doorway before joining the crowd."
"We prepared the exiting route so that guests could leave quickly in case of emergency."
"The exiting traffic was heavier than usual after the concert ended."
Pronounce it as /ɪkˈsɪtɪŋ/ in US and UK accents, with stress on the second syllable. Start with a short, lax ‘i’ in the first syllable (/ɪ/), then a clear /ˈsɪ/ in the second syllable, followed by a weak, almost schwa-like /tɪŋ/ in the final syllable. The sequence sounds like ihk-SIH-ting. Mouth positions: lips relaxed, tongue high-mid for /ɪ/, alveolar /s/ with slight voicing, then the /t/ is a light, unreleased interdental or alveolar stop before /ɪŋ/. For best clarity, make sure the /t/ is released and the final /ŋ/ is velar, soft but audible.
Common errors include: (1) Dropping the middle /t/ and saying /ɪkˈsiŋ/ or /ɪkˈsit͡ɪŋ/ incorrectly. Correction: ensure a brief, audible /t/ between /sɪ/ and /ɪŋ/. (2) Flattening the stress: many say /ɪkˈsɪtɪŋ/ with even stress; keep primary stress on the second syllable /ˈsɪ/. Correction: emphasize the second syllable while keeping a light but clear final /ŋ/. (3) Vowel reduction in fast speech, turning /ɪ/ into a schwa in all syllables: correct by maintaining /ɪ/ in both first and second syllables when delivering clearly.
US/UK/AU share /ɪkˈsɪtɪŋ/ but vowel quality and rhoticity affect sound. In US, /ɪ/ are lax, rhotics sound typical, and final /ŋ/ is velar and voiced near end. UK speakers may have crisper /t/ and slightly tighter vowel spaces; AU speakers tend to have broader vowel transitions and a slightly more open /ɪ/ with less tense /ɪ/ in rapid speech. Stress remains on the second syllable. Overall, you’ll notice minor vowel height and length differences rather than a different syllable count.
Two challenges stand out: a) maintaining the correct second-syllable stress while keeping the /t/ audible in the sequence, and b) producing the final /ŋ/ smoothly after a short /ɪ/ vowel, which can sound like /ŋ/ blends with a near-silent /t/. The tongue must stay at alveolar position for /t/; then quickly pull back to velar position for /ŋ/. Practicing with minimal pairs like ‘exiting’ vs. ‘existing’ helps isolate the transitional sounds and reduce misarticulation.
A unique feature is the clear, secondary consonant cluster around the /t/ in rapid speech: /ɪkˈsɪtɪŋ/ requires crisp release of /t/ while not overemphasizing the following /ɪ/. In connected speech, you may hear a subtle linking to the final /ŋ/ as the tongue moves from alveolar to velar position, which can affect fluency. Focus on a brief but audible /t/ and a smooth velar onset to the /ŋ/.
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Exiting traces its roots to late Middle English, from Old French exiting, present participle of sortir, meaning 'to go out' or 'to depart.' The verb sortir derives from the Latin surgere, meaning 'to rise' or 'to go up,' with influence from French sortir and the structure of Old French ex- (out) + sortir (to go out). In English, exiting developed as a participial form from the verb exit, which entered in the 14th century with senses tied to departures and retreated movements. Over time, exiting came to function not only as a verb (present participle) but also as an adjective or as a gerund-participle in phrases describing the act or process of leaving. The word gained prominence in contexts ranging from theater and stage directions (an actor exiting) to emergency instructions (exiting routes). First known uses appear in mid- to late-15th century English texts, where exiting described physical departure from spaces, and later, metaphorical departures in discourse and narrative.
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Words that rhyme with "exiting"
-ing sounds
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