block
/ˈblɑk/
verbnoun
Core
1.v.render unsuitable for passage
“block the way”
2.v.hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of
“His brother blocked him at every turn”
3.v.stop from happening or developing
“Block his election”
Loading page
block and blocking share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. block means “render unsuitable for passage”. blocking means “the act of obstructing or deflecting someone's movements”. block is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈblɑk/
1.v.render unsuitable for passage
“block the way”
2.v.hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of
“His brother blocked him at every turn”
3.v.stop from happening or developing
“Block his election”
/ˈblɑkɪŋ/
1.n.the act of obstructing or deflecting someone's movements
| block | blocking | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈblɑk/ | /ˈblɑkɪŋ/ |
| Said | blahk | BLAH-king |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Letters | 5 | 8 |
| Parts of speech | verb, noun | noun |
| Senses | 28 | 1 |
| How common | Core | Common |
| Synonyms | barricade, blockade, stop | block |
Full entry for block · Full entry for blocking · More comparisons