2 syllables: lock, ing. Stress on lock.
/ˈlɑkɪŋ/
Say it backLocking is a present participle form meaning to fasten or secure something with a lock or mechanism, or to become stuck in a fixed position. In everyday use, it often describes a mechanism engaging or a temporary halt in motion. The word combines the verb lock with the -ing suffix, signaling ongoing action or the concept as a noun-like gerund in contexts like hardware, security, or metaphorical stasis.
"The locksmith showed how the gate, when properly aligned, would locking into place."
"She was locking the bicycle chain before leaving the bike rack."
"The technician is locking the device to prevent any accidental startup."
You pronounce it as /ˈlɒkɪŋ/ in British/General UK and most US dialects with the first syllable stressed: LOK-ing. The lips start rounded slightly for the /ɒ/ in many accents, jaw drops a bit, followed by a short /ɪ/ and a final /ŋ/ with the tongue touching the soft palate. In some American regions you may hear /ˈlɔːkɪŋ/ where the /ɔː/ or /ɒ/ quality is more open. Listen for the crisp /k/ after the initial /l/ and a clean –ing ending.
Common mistakes include pronouncing the initial /l/ with the tongue too far back or too forward, resulting in a blurred onset; confusing the /ɒ/ with a lax /ɑ/ in some dialects, making the vowel sound dull or indistinct; and finishing with an audible /ɡ/ instead of a clear /ŋ/. Correct by letting the tongue blade touch the alveolar ridge for /l/, using a short, open /ɒ/ or /ɔ/ in stressed syllable, and ending with the velar nasal /ŋ/ from the soft palate without vocalizing a /g/ sound.
In US varieties, you’ll often hear a slightly rhotic quality in the /l/ and a more tense /ɒ/ or /ɔ/ in the first syllable depending on regional vowel chains; the final /ŋ/ remains. UK speakers tend to have a clipped /ɒ/ with a clearer /l/ and sometimes lighter /ɪ/ in the second syllable. Australian English generally keeps /ɒ/ but may reduce the second vowel slightly and maintain a non-velar nasal /ŋ/; all share the non-sound of a /g/ at the end.
The difficulty centers on producing a clean, precise onset /l/ with proper place of articulation, achieving a crisp /k/ release before the velar nasal /ŋ/, and maintaining a clear separation between the /k/ and /ɪ/. Some speakers compress the /k/ into a palatal onset or let the /ŋ/ intrude into the preceding /ɪ/. Focusing on a strong alveolar touch for /l/, a hard stop for /k/, and ensuring the /ŋ/ is velar and silent in the mouth flow helps.
Yes. The primary stress is on the first syllable: LO-king. This setup supports a short, punchy /ɒ/ or /ɔ/ before the /k/ release, then a quick, reduced /ɪ/ in the second syllable. Keep stress on the first syllable and let the second syllable be lighter, allowing a natural fall in pitch toward the end of the word.
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Locking derives from lock, itself from Old English lacian (to fasten, secure) with Proto-Germanic roots *lukaną ‘to bend, lie in wait’ in some senses, but primarily linked to fastening devices. The -ing suffix marks present participle and gerund forms from Old English -ing (present participle/gerund). The term “lock” predates the modern security sense; by Middle English, lock referred to a fastening or bolt, and “locking” emerged as a product of the industrial era as mechanisms grew more sophisticated. Over time, “locking” broadened from a literal action of securing to include metaphorical meanings (e.g., locks in place, locking in a pattern), and in technical contexts it became a standard verb participle in procedures and instructions. The first known uses date back to Middle English texts where “lock” described tangible hardware. The evolution tracks a shift from simple fastening to a state of immobility or secured engagement, and later to computer and mechanical contexts where precise engagement is described as “locking.”
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "locking" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "locking" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "locking"
-ing sounds
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