NYT Dictionary

WINDING

/ˈwɪndɪŋ/
NounAdjectiveVerbWIND-ingwind-ing · 2 syllablesGrade 3

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2021, 2024, 2025

Meaning

gerund of wind

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

The noun is derived from Middle English winding, windinge, wyndynge (“act of exposing something to the wind, airing, ventilating; act of winnowing (?)”), from winden, wynden (“to expose (something) to the air or wind, ventilate; to cause (someone) to be out of breath; to winnow (wheat); of an animal: to catch the scent of (someone or something)”) + -ing, -inge (suffix forming gerund nouns, and the present participle forms of verbs). The adjective is derived from the verb. The English word is analysable as wind (“to blow air through (a wind instrument or horn) to make a sound; to cause (someone) to become breathless; to winnow (food grain), etc.”) + -ing (suffix forming present participial adjectives and verbs, and nouns denoting an action or the embodiment of an action).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

lappingwithewithycircuitouscircumlocutionaryindirectmeanderingtortuouswindtwist

Antonyms

unwind

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 2 recorded puzzles:

Join the Spelling Bee Community

Get solving strategies, rare word lists, and puzzle tips in your inbox every week.