SEN-sing
/ˈsɛnsɪŋ/
sensing is pronounced SEN-sing (/ˈsɛnsɪŋ/). Sensing is the active process of perceiving or detecting by means of perception or intuiting. In practice, it often refers to noticing signals, moods, or environmental cues through observation, feeling, or inference. The term can also describe a device’s ability to detect a signal or change in status. It emphasizes perception over lengthier analytical processing.
Sensing is the active process of perceiving or detecting by means of perception or intuiting. In practice, it often refers to noticing signals, moods, or environmental cues through observation, feeling, or inference. The term can also describe a device’s ability to detect a signal or change in status. It emphasizes perception over lengthier analytical processing.
"Her sensing of the room’s tension helped her adjust her approach."
"Modern smartphones include sensors that are constantly sensing light, temperature, and motion."
"The sensor is why the device can sense a drop in water levels."
Pronounce as /ˈsɛn.sɪŋ/. The first syllable has the stressed short-e vowel as in 'pen,' followed by a light, unstressed second syllable with a schwa-like vowel. Ensure the final -ing is pronounced with a clear nasal /ŋ/. Mouth positions: start with relaxed lips, tongue high-mid for /ɛ/ then glide to a lax /ɪ/ before the nasal /ŋ/. Audio reference: you can compare with 'sensing' in Cambridge/Oxford audio or Rachel’s English practice files.
Common errors include turning the first syllable into a long /iː/ as in 'seeing' (/ˈsiː.sɪŋ/) and overemphasizing the second syllable with a full vowel instead of a reduced /ɪ/. Another error is pronouncing the final /ŋ/ as an /ŋk/ or /ŋg/. Correction: keep the first vowel as /ɛ/ (not /iː/), reduce the second vowel to /ɪ/ and finish with a clean /ŋ/ without a following stop. Practice with minimal pairs: sense-sensing to feel the shortening and unstressed rhythm.
US/UK/AU all share /ˈsensɪŋ/, but rhoticity and vowel quality differ slightly. US English often has a more rounded /ɜː/ in similar words, but sensing remains with /ɛ/ in stressed syllable and a crisp /ɪ/ in the second. UK English tends to a slightly tenser /ɛ/ and a more clipped /ŋ/. Australian English maintains /ˈsensɪŋ/ but with a more centralized final vowel and a slightly softer /ɪ/. Overall, the rhyme is maintained; differences are in vowel height and fluency of the first syllable.
The difficulty lies in the quick switch from the stressed /ɛ/ to the lax /ɪ/ in the second syllable and the final nasal /ŋ/ without a following consonant. English learners often insert an extra vowel or alter the vowel height. The transition between the two vowels should be subtle; keep a light, relaxed jaw, and avoid tensing the /s/ or over-enunciating the -ing. Consistent practice with minimal pairs helps stabilize the rhythm.
Is there a subtle assimilation in 'sensing' when following a voiceless consonant? In natural speech, the /s/ at the start of sensing can be slightly devoiced before a voiceless context, but the word itself remains /ˈsensɪŋ/. You’ll often hear a crisper /s/ and a shorter preceding vowel in rapid speech, yet it does not alter the core stress pattern or the /ɪ/ in the second syllable. Practicing in connected speech helps lock this in.
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Sensing comes from the verb sense, which traces to Old French sentir (to feel, perceive) and Latin sentire (to feel, perceive, think). The noun sense, from Latin sensus, likewise derives from s- root meaning 'to perceive' and -sensus denoting a way of perceiving. In English, sense evolved to cover both physical perception (sight, hearing) and figurative perception (a sense of danger, a sensing mind). The present participle sensing emerged in Middle English and Early Modern English as agents and gerunds increasingly used to describe ongoing perception or intuitive awareness. Over time, sensing broadened with scientific terminology (sensor technology) and psychological usage (emotional sensing), while retaining core meanings tied to perceiving stimuli and making attuned judgments based on those stimuli.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "sensing" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "sensing" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "sensing"
-ing sounds
-re) sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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