Standard Lemma guide

toying

adj · noun · verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • CMU ARPABET: T OY1 IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The act of one who toys.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 1844-45, George William M. Reynolds, The Mysteries of London The imagination of the young maiden grew inflamed, as the toyings of her lover became bolder; and half-raising her in his arms, he supported her across the room to a door which opened to his touch at the farther end.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

present participle and gerund of toy

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

playful behavior intended to arouse sexual interest

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: flirt, flirting, flirtation, coquetry, dalliance

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: play, frolic, romp, gambol, caper

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Old Armenian: խնծիղ (xncił) — the act of one who toys
  • Irish: áilleagánacht — the act of one who toys
  • Latin: lūsus — the act of one who toys