English · Word Candidate

choking

/ˈtʃəʊkɪŋ/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: chokings

Sense 1

Meaning · English

The process in which a person's airway becomes blocked, resulting in asphyxia in cases that are not treated promptly.

Noun

Examples

In the last 6 years, there has been a great effort to educate the public concerning the prevention of choking due to accidental aspiration of foods or small objects by children.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

The act of coughing when a person finds it difficult to breathe.

Noun

Examples

Putting the latter on her head and the former on the table, the old woman, after telling Oliver that she had come to sit up with him, drew her chair close to the fire and went off into a series of short naps, chequered at frequent intervals with sundry tumblings forward, and divers moans and choking

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “choking” mean?

The process in which a person's airway becomes blocked, resulting in asphyxia in cases that are not treated promptly.

Is “choking” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.