FluencyCraft

ducking

"Ducking" is the present participle (-ing form) of the verb "duck." It has a few common meanings — the most important ones involve moving your body quickly to avoid something, or avoiding a situation you don't want to deal with.

1verblowering your body quickly

When you bend your head or whole body down fast — usually to avoid being hit by something or to get under something low — you are ducking. Think of someone throwing a ball at your head: you duck to avoid it.

everyday language · Modern, widely used

She saw the branch swinging toward her and ducked just in time.

He was ducking under the low doorway as he entered the old cottage.

The soldiers were ducking behind the wall to stay safe.

2verbfigurativeavoiding a responsibility or situation

When someone is ducking something, they are deliberately avoiding a difficult question, task, or responsibility. It is like they are 'dodging' it — they don't want to face it.

everyday language, politics · Modern, widely used · figurative

The politician kept ducking the reporter's questions about the scandal.

Stop ducking your responsibilities — you need to deal with this.

She has been ducking that difficult conversation with her boss for weeks.

3verbpushing someone briefly underwater

If you duck someone, you push their head or body under water for a short moment — usually playfully, like in a swimming pool. It can also describe dipping your own head under water.

everyday language · Modern, widely used

The kids were laughing and ducking each other in the pool.

He ducked his head under the water to rinse out the shampoo.

She screamed when her brother ducked her in the lake.

4verbmoving quickly into or out of a place

You can also use 'ducking' to describe moving quickly and quietly into or out of a place — almost like slipping away without being noticed.

everyday language · Modern, widely used

He was ducking in and out of the shops trying to find a gift.

She ducked into the café to escape the rain.

I saw him ducking out of the meeting early.

Content generated by AI — may contain inaccuracies