The suffix -ING is one of the most versatile endings in English. It transforms verbs into present participles (running, jumping), creates gerunds (swimming is fun), and forms countless nouns (building, meeting). For word game players, -ING words are essential for extending plays and finding bingos.
This comprehensive guide covers -ING words organized by length, strategic tips for using them in Scrabble and Wordle, and patterns to help you spot them quickly.
Why -ING Words Matter in Word Games
In Scrabble
- Extend existing words – Add -ING to verbs already on the board
- Create bingos – Many 7-letter bingos end in -ING
- Use difficult letters – The G (2 points) and N (1 point) are common tiles
- Hook plays – Add -ING to short words for big scores
In Wordle
- Common pattern – Many 5-letter Wordle answers end in -ING
- Eliminate possibilities – Testing -ING early narrows options
- Strategic guessing – If you have _ING confirmed, you're close to solving
5-Letter Words Ending in -ING (Wordle-Ready)
These are valid Wordle answers and Scrabble words:
Common 5-Letter -ING Words
| Word | Scrabble Points | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| ACING | 8 | Scoring an ace |
| AGING | 7 | Growing older |
| AHING | 9 | Exclaiming "ah" |
| APING | 8 | Imitating |
| AWING | 9 | Inspiring awe |
| AXING | 13 | Cutting with an axe |
| BEING | 8 | Existing; a creature |
| BRING | 8 | To carry toward |
| CLING | 8 | To hold tightly |
| DOING | 7 | Performing |
| DYING | 10 | Ceasing to live |
| EKING | 10 | Making last |
| EYING | 9 | Looking at |
| FLING | 9 | To throw |
| GOING | 7 | Moving; leaving |
| ICING | 8 | Cake frosting |
| LYING | 9 | Not telling truth |
| OHING | 9 | Exclaiming "oh" |
| OWING | 9 | Being indebted |
| PIING | 8 | Making a ping sound |
| SLING | 6 | To throw; a strap |
| STING | 6 | Sharp pain; to pierce |
| SWING | 9 | To move back and forth |
| THING | 9 | An object |
| TYING | 9 | Fastening with cord |
| USING | 6 | Employing |
| VYING | 12 | Competing |
| WRING | 9 | To squeeze and twist |
| YOUNG | 9 | Not old (note: not -ING suffix) |
6-Letter Words Ending in -ING
High-Frequency 6-Letter -ING Words
| Word | Points | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| ACTING | 9 | Performing |
| ADDING | 9 | Combining |
| AIDING | 8 | Helping |
| AIMING | 9 | Pointing toward |
| ASKING | 11 | Questioning |
| BAKING | 13 | Cooking in oven |
| BASING | 9 | Founding on |
| BITING | 9 | Using teeth |
| BORING | 9 | Dull; drilling |
| BOXING | 16 | Fighting sport |
| BUYING | 12 | Purchasing |
| CARING | 9 | Showing concern |
| CITING | 9 | Quoting |
| CODING | 10 | Programming |
| COMING | 11 | Approaching |
| COPING | 11 | Managing |
| CURING | 9 | Healing |
| DATING | 8 | Going out with |
| DINING | 8 | Eating formally |
| DIVING | 11 | Plunging |
| DRYING | 11 | Removing moisture |
| DURING | 8 | Throughout |
| EATING | 7 | Consuming food |
| ENDING | 8 | Finishing |
| FACING | 12 | Confronting |
| FADING | 11 | Losing color |
| FAKING | 14 | Pretending |
| FILING | 10 | Organizing papers |
| FIRING | 10 | Shooting; dismissing |
| FIXING | 17 | Repairing |
| FLYING | 13 | Moving through air |
| GAMING | 10 | Playing games |
| GIVING | 11 | Donating |
| HAVING | 13 | Possessing |
| HIDING | 11 | Concealing |
| HIKING | 14 | Walking outdoors |
| HIRING | 10 | Employing |
| HOPING | 12 | Wishing |
| JOKING | 18 | Kidding |
| LACING | 9 | Tying shoes |
| LAYING | 10 | Placing down |
| LIKING | 11 | Enjoying |
| LINING | 7 | Inner layer |
| LIVING | 10 | Being alive |
| LOSING | 7 | Not winning |
| LOVING | 10 | Feeling love |
| MAKING | 13 | Creating |
| MINING | 9 | Extracting minerals |
| MIXING | 16 | Combining |
| MOVING | 12 | Changing position |
| NAMING | 9 | Giving a name |
| NOTING | 7 | Observing |
| OPTING | 9 | Choosing |
| PACING | 11 | Walking back and forth |
| PAYING | 12 | Giving money |
| RACING | 9 | Competing in speed |
| RATING | 7 | Evaluating |
| RIDING | 8 | Traveling on |
| RISING | 7 | Going up |
| RULING | 7 | Governing |
| SAVING | 10 | Keeping; rescuing |
| SAYING | 10 | Speaking |
| SEEING | 7 | Viewing |
| SEWING | 10 | Stitching |
| SIZING | 16 | Measuring |
| SKIING | 11 | Snow sport |
| STRING | 7 | Thin cord |
| TAKING | 11 | Grabbing |
| TAPING | 9 | Recording |
| TAXING | 14 | Demanding; levying tax |
| TIMING | 9 | Measuring time |
| TIRING | 7 | Exhausting |
| TRYING | 10 | Attempting |
| TUNING | 7 | Adjusting |
| TYPING | 12 | Using keyboard |
| URGING | 8 | Encouraging |
| VOTING | 10 | Casting ballot |
| WADING | 11 | Walking in water |
| WAKING | 14 | Becoming conscious |
| WAVING | 13 | Moving hand |
| WIRING | 10 | Installing wires |
| ZONING | 16 | Dividing into areas |
7-Letter -ING Words (Bingo Material)
These are prime candidates for Scrabble bingos:
Common 7-Letter -ING Bingos
- SEATING (8) – Providing seats
- HEATING (11) – Warming
- BEATING (10) – Striking; defeating
- READING (9) – Looking at text
- LEADING (9) – Guiding
- DEALING (9) – Distributing
- HEALING (11) – Recovering
- FEELING (11) – Sensing
- MEETING (10) – Gathering
- KEEPING (14) – Retaining
- SEEKING (12) – Searching
- LOOKING (12) – Viewing
- COOKING (14) – Preparing food
- BOOKING (14) – Reserving
- WORKING (15) – Laboring
- WALKING (15) – Moving on foot
- TALKING (12) – Speaking
- PARKING (14) – Leaving vehicle
- MARKING (14) – Labeling
- BANKING (14) – Financial services
- RANKING (12) – Ordering by merit
- THANKING (16) – Expressing gratitude
- THINKING (16) – Cogitating
- DRINKING (14) – Consuming liquid
- SINKING (12) – Going down
- LINKING (12) – Connecting
- BLINKING (15) – Closing eyes briefly
- STINKING (13) – Smelling bad
- STANDING (10) – Being upright
- LANDING (9) – Arriving
- BANDING (11) – Grouping
- HANDING (12) – Giving
- SENDING (9) – Dispatching
- LENDING (9) – Loaning
- BENDING (11) – Curving
- TENDING (9) – Caring for
- PENDING (11) – Awaiting
- SPENDING (12) – Using money
- BLENDING (12) – Mixing
Strategic Tips for -ING Words
1. Save ING for Extensions
If you have I, N, G on your rack, look for verbs on the board you can extend. PLAY → PLAYING scores for the whole word.
2. Parallel Play Opportunities
-ING creates great parallel plays. Place GOING next to existing words to form multiple 2-letter combinations.
3. Bingo Hunting
If you have ING + 4 other letters, you're close to a bingo. Look for common stems like SEAT+ING, READ+ING, DEAL+ING.
4. Wordle Strategy
If you suspect the answer ends in -ING, try SLING or STING early to test common consonants.
Practice Finding -ING Words
Use our Words Ending With tool to explore all -ING words. Enter "ing" and filter by length to find exactly what you need.
Our Scrabble Helper can find the highest-scoring -ING plays from your rack.
Conclusion
The -ING suffix is a word game player's best friend. It extends verbs, creates bingos, and appears in countless common words. Master these patterns, and you'll spot -ING opportunities that other players miss.
Keep this list handy, practice regularly, and watch your scores improve!