/ˈmitɪŋ/
Say it backMeeting refers to the act of assembling people for a discussion or decision, or to the session itself where such gathering occurs. It can describe a scheduled event, a formal or informal gathering, or the point at which two or more lines or paths converge. In everyday use, it often implies coordination, exchange, or encounter in a workplace or social context.
"We have a team meeting at 10 a.m. sharp to review quarterly goals."
"She scheduled a meeting with the client to discuss contract details."
"The new policy requires a department-wide meeting to explain the changes."
Say /ˈmiːtɪŋ/. Start with a long E in the first syllable, like 'me' with a tense lip position. The second syllable is a short, lax /ɪ/. End with a velar nasal /ŋ/. The primary stress is on the first syllable. Keep the tongue high for /iː/, and finish with a crisp /ŋ/. You can also practice with ‘meat’ + ‘ing’ rhythm to feel the transition. IPA: /ˈmiːtɪŋ/.
Common errors: shortening the first vowel to a lax /ɪ/ or /eɪ/; confusing /iː/ with a diphthong like /iə/; and adding extra vowel sounds before the /ŋ/. Correct by ensuring a pure /iː/ in the first syllable and a clean /ŋ/ at the end, with a brief, light /t/ sound as needed in fast speech. Avoid inserting an extra syllable (mee-eh-ting). IPA cues: /ˈmiːtɪŋ/.
In US English, /ˈmiːtɪŋ/ with rhotic stress on the initial syllable; the /t/ can be flapped in casual speech before an unstressed vowel, giving a quick /ɾ/ timing in rapid phrases. UK English typically retains a clear /t/ and non-rhoticity in many dialects; /ˈmiːtɪŋ/ is common, with less tendency for rhotic articulation but a crisp final /ŋ/. Australian English mirrors UK for vowel quality but often shows more precise fronted /iː/; the final /ŋ/ remains. IPA: US /ˈmiːtɪŋ/, UK /ˈmiːtɪŋ/, AU /ˈmiːtɪŋ/.
Key challenge is the tense, high-front vowel /iː/ followed by a short, lax /ɪ/ and a velar nasal /ŋ/; the transition from a tense to a lax vowel can feel abrupt, especially in rapid speech. Another difficulty is maintaining a clean /t/ before a nasal without intrusive vowels in some quick phrases. Keeping the boundary between syllables clear helps. IPA focus: /ˈmiːtɪŋ/.
A unique point is the strong first-syllable stress combined with the abrupt shift to a shorter second vowel; the syllable boundary is important to avoid merging into a longer /miːtiŋ/. The /t/ should be released crisply rather than aggressively aspirated in careful speech. Practice width by saying ‘meat’ plus ‘sing’ in quick succession to feel the boundary: /miːt ɪŋ/.
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Meeting originally derives from the verb meet, meaning to come into the presence of another or to come together. The word meet has Old English roots (gemētan) from Proto-Germanic *mētiz, related to the Old High German gi'metten and Dutch ontmoeten, all signifying the act of coming into contact or being brought together. In Middle English, meeting referenced both the act of meeting and the place where people would convene, evolving into the noun that denotes a specific gathering or event where people assemble. Over centuries, the concept widened to describe any encounter or convergence, including geometric or abstract senses (e.g., lines or events meeting). In modern usage, “meeting” is primarily used for organized gatherings, both formal and informal, and can also imply the act of two or more things converging, such as ideas, schedules, or goals. The word’s semantic breadth expanded with business and organizational contexts in the 19th and 20th centuries, cementing its status as a staple term in professional communication and everyday language. First known uses in English are documented in medieval texts, with related forms appearing in legal and ecclesiastical records where assemblages were routine for governance and negotiation. The core idea—people or paths coming together—remains the throughline from its origin to contemporary usage.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "meeting" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "meeting"
-ing sounds
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