English · Common Verbs

burning

/ˈbɜːrnɪŋ/

[/ˈbɜːrnɪŋ/]

present participle of burn

Beginnerverb

Definition

Present participle of 'burn': showing that something is on fire or damaging by heat right now.

Example

The whole forest was burning, and thick grey smoke rose high into the evening sky.

The whole forest was burning, and thick grey smoke rose high into the evening sky.

Etymology

From Old English 'beornan', with the '-ing' ending forming the present participle.

How & Where It’s Used

Used with forms of 'be' for continuous tenses and as an adjective, as in 'burning house'.

Watch “present participle of burn” pronunciation on YouTube
verbpresent-participle

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