picnicking

USAGE SUMMARY

'picnicking' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is the present participle form of the verb 'picnic', which means to have a meal outdoors. You can use 'picnicking' when describing the act of having a picnic or when referring to a group of people who are having a picnic. For example: - We spent the day picnicking by the lake, enjoying the beautiful weather and delicious sandwiches. - The park was filled with families picnicking and children playing. - I love picnicking in the countryside, surrounded by nature and fresh air.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Taylor is a truck driver, Brown a teacher (Dushyantha Piladitiya, also picnicking with them outside the hall in on a union jack blanket, is 20 and a former biology student of Brown's).

The Guardian

It was a sunny day and the esplanade around the church was thronged with families, picnicking, enjoying the views (which are some of the best in Algiers), kids playing football.

The Guardian

He later dismisses pessimistic talk of white elephants, predicting that the Olympic Park will be a cherished part of east London in 20 years' time, describing a place where friends and families will "come to spend the day", shopping, going to the cinema, "cycling, picnicking, seeing a show in the stadium in the evening.

The Guardian - Film

On the Mexican side of the river, in Ciudad Miguel Aleman, a large group was picnicking on the riverbank, swimming, fishing and listening to music.

The Economist

It had to stand by and watch its authority defied by stone-throwing students and ignored by thousands of families picnicking on the grass around the Shahyad (now unofficially renamed Khomeini) monument.

The Economist

With pilgrimages to their holy sites no longer shackled by Mr Hussein's secret police, a record 10,000 religious tourists a day, bringing in about $2 billion a year, are flocking across unguarded borders with Iran, turning Baghdad's few public parks into a sea of picnicking chadors.

The Economist

On the beach at Hadera recently, Arab families picnicking with their children were harassed by Jewish louts.

The Economist

The Siamese crocodile, which used to pluck picnicking princesses off the riverbank, according to French explorers, has already disappeared from the main river.

The Economist

With the special British genius for picnicking in insalubrious spots, some carry their snacks to a patch of grass a few metres from the roaring motorway.The lunches themselves are symptomatic of Britain's half-evolved attitude to food.

The Economist

Two hikers are picnicking when a bear appears.

The Economist

At every level, there are people picnicking, sipping tea, grilling meat, playing music.Near expiration in the unforgiving sun, we plunge into the water, fully clothed.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an ongoing scene or activity, use "picnicking" to convey the action of people enjoying a picnic. For example, "We saw families "picnicking" by the lake".

Common error

Avoid using "picnicking" as a noun. "Picnicking" is a verb form describing the action. Use "picnic" or "picnics" when referring to the event itself. Incorrect: "The "picnicking" was fun". Correct: "The picnic was fun".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "picnicking" is as a verb, specifically the present participle or gerund form of "picnic". As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes the action of engaging in a picnic. It can function as part of a continuous verb tense (e.g., "They are "picnicking"") or as a gerund serving as a noun (e.g., ""Picnicking" is a fun activity").

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Encyclopedias

17%

Independent

14%

Less common in

The New Yorker

13%

The New York Times

8%

The Economist

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "picnicking" functions as a verb, commonly used in its present participle or gerund form to describe the act of having a picnic. As Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in News & Media and Encyclopedia contexts. While generally neutral in tone, it evokes a sense of leisure. Remember to use "picnic" as a noun and "picnicking" as a verb form. When looking for alternatives, consider phrases like "having a picnic" or "outdoor dining". As such, incorporating "picnicking" into your vocabulary can enhance your ability to express outdoor leisure activities effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

having a picnic

Rephrases the activity using a more common noun phrase.

outdoor dining

Emphasizes the dining aspect in an outdoor setting.

eating al fresco

Uses a foreign phrase to describe eating outdoors.

open-air lunching

Highlights the lunch aspect and the open-air setting.

meal outdoors

A simple and direct way of expressing the activity.

outing with food

Focuses on the outing aspect, involving food.

riverside lunch

Specifies the location of the picnic by the river

park gathering with food

Specifies the location in a park

roadside snack

Specifies a quick meal on the road

forest repast

Suggests a more formal or historical context, using "repast" for meal and setting in the forest.

FAQs

How do I use "picnicking" in a sentence?

"Picnicking" is the present participle of the verb "picnic", so it's used to describe the action of having a picnic. For example, "They were "picnicking" by the river".

What's a synonym for "picnicking"?

Alternatives include "having a "having a picnic"", or "outdoor dining", depending on the context.

Is "picnicking" a verb or a noun?

"Picnicking" is a verb in its present participle form, describing an action. The noun form is "picnic".

Which is correct, "picnicking" or "to picnic"?

Both are correct but used differently. "Picnicking" is a gerund or present participle (e.g., "We enjoy "picnicking""). "To picnic" is an infinitive (e.g., "We like to picnic").