parking

parking — noun

1. the activity of driving a car, motorcycle, or other vehicle to a specific spot a

1.nounA2
Definition

the activity of driving a car, motorcycle, or other vehicle to a specific spot and keeping it there, usually with the engine switched off, until you come back to use it again.

Example

Parking in front of a fire hydrant is illegal in most cities.

no parking: sign and regulation usage

The hotel near Nikhil's office offers free underground parking for employees.

free / underground parking: common adjective + parking collocations

Common collocations
  • free parking
  • valet parking
  • illegal parking
  • no parking
  • short-term parking
  • parking ban
  • parking restrictions
  • parking charges
Synonyms
  • leaving

    more general — 'parking' specifically implies the vehicle is turned off and locked; 'leaving' could mean any kind of departure.

  • stopping

    shorter duration — stopping can be momentary (e.g. at a red light); parking implies a longer stay.

Grammar Patterns

parking + is / costs / takes

no parking (sign)

parking + allowed / prohibited / banned

Usage Note

Frequently seen on signs and in traffic regulations ('No Parking,' 'Parking Prohibited'). As an uncountable noun it describes the activity in general, not a single event — to refer to one instance, use a phrase such as 'the act of parking' or 'parking the car.'

Common Mistakes

I need to parking my car.
I need to park my car.
after 'need to,' use the base verb 'park,' not the noun 'parking.'
No parking' is used even when a driver is just stopped for a moment.
No parking' means you cannot leave the vehicle there, even briefly
stopping to drop someone off may still be allowed unless a sign says 'No Stopping.'

2. a place, such as a lot, a multi-storey building, or a marked space on a street,

2.nounA2
Definition

a place, such as a lot, a multi-storey building, or a marked space on a street, where cars and other vehicles can be left for a period of time.

Example

The restaurant on Elm Street has its own private parking behind the building.

private parking: type of parking area

Tomás struggled to find parking near the train station during the holiday rush.

find parking: common verb + parking collocation

Common collocations
  • ample parking
  • limited parking
  • off-street parking
  • on-street parking
  • underground parking
  • paid parking
  • covered parking
  • secure parking
Synonyms
  • parking lot

    countable — refers to a specific paved area with marked spaces; 'parking' alone is uncountable and more general.

  • parking garage

    a multi-storey building, not an open lot; usually covered or indoor.

  • car park

    British equivalent of parking lot; rarely used in American English.

  • parking space

    one individual marked spot, countable — the narrowest meaning of the group.

Grammar Patterns

there is + parking

find + parking

provide + parking

have + parking

Usage Note

Uncountable when referring to space in general ('There is plenty of parking,' 'The hotel has limited parking'). To specify one individual spot, use 'parking space,' 'parking spot,' or 'parking bay.' Countable uses like 'a parking' are non-standard; use 'a parking space' or 'a parking spot' instead.

Common Mistakes

I found a parking near the store.
I found a parking space near the store.' or 'I found parking near the store.
'parking' meaning space is uncountable; add 'space' or 'spot' for a single location.
There is a parking behind the building.
There is parking behind the building.' or 'There is a parking lot behind the building.
use 'a parking lot' for a countable area, or uncountable 'parking' without 'a.'

Word family

  • park
    verbA1
  • parked
    adjectiveA2
  • parking lot
    nounA2
  • parking meter
    nounB1
  • parking ticket
    nounB1
  • no-parking
    adjectiveB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All four terms refer to places where vehicles can be left, but they differ in scope and region. 'Parking' (uncountable) is the broadest — it covers any available space in general ('There's plenty of parking downtown'). 'Parking lot' (American) and 'car park' (British) both describe a defined area, usually paved, with multiple marked spaces. 'Parking garage' (also 'parking deck' in the US South) is a multi-storey building, often covered or underground. 'Parking space' (or 'parking spot') is the narrowest — it refers to one single marked bay. For example: 'The parking garage was full, so Lan drove around the block looking for a parking space on the street.'

parking lotparking garagecar parkparking space

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • no parking zone
  • parking lot
  • parking space
  • parking spot
  • parking garage
  • parking meter
  • parking ticket
  • parking permit
  • parking fee
  • parking fine
  • parking attendant
  • parking deck
  • parking ramp
  • parking restriction
  • parking ban
  • parking bay
  • valet parking
  • disabled parking
  • handicapped parking

Prepositions

  • in parking
  • for parking

Etymology

EnglishOld French (park → parc)Germanic

'Parking' is formed from the verb 'park' plus the suffix '-ing', which turns the verb into a noun that names either the action or the place connected with that action. The verb 'park' originally meant 'to enclose in a piece of land (a park)'. In the late 1800s, as automobiles became common, the meaning shifted to 'to leave a vehicle temporarily in a particular spot.' By the early 1900s, 'parking' had come into use as a noun for both the act of parking and the area set aside for it.