railing

1 of 2

noun

rail·​ing ˈrā-liŋ How to pronounce railing (audio)
Synonyms of railingnext
1
: a barrier consisting of a rail and supports
2
: rails
also : material for making rails

railing

2 of 2

present participle of rail entry 2, rail entry 4

Synonyms of railing

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Noun

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Examples of railing in a Sentence

Noun He leaned on the deck's railing and watched the sun set. they had to put a childproof railing on the balcony when the baby started walking
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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
This set of minimalistic dusk-to-dawn deck lights is one of the simplest options to add lights around your railings, and more than 11,000 reviewers give them five stars. — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 29 Aug. 2026 Now is the time to nail down loose boards, clean debris out of gaps and tighten loose railings. — Alora Bopray, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 Improvements would include repairing the aging triple cantilever and fixing drainage, railings and lighting. — Elijah Westbrook, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 Few signs of humanity interrupted the rocky shoreline — just a couple of cabins and the wooden railings of a path leading to a wizened cedar tree revered by the tribe. — Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for railing

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of railing was in the 15th century

Rhymes for railing

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Browse Nearby Words

railhead
railing
railingly
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Cite this Entry

“Railing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/railing. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

railing

noun
rail·​ing ˈrā-liŋ How to pronounce railing (audio)
1
: a barrier (as a fence) consisting of rails and their supports
2
: material for rails
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