vacuuming

vacuuming — verb

1. the action of running a powered cleaning machine over a floor, carpet, or other

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveA2
Definition

the action of running a powered cleaning machine over a floor, carpet, or other surface so that it sucks up dust, hair, and small bits of dirt.

Example

Liam finished vacuuming the living-room rug before his guests arrived.

vacuum + [surface] (transitive)

Yumi spent Saturday morning vacuuming under the beds and behind the sofa.

vacuuming + [location prepositions]

Common collocations
  • vacuuming the carpet
  • vacuuming the stairs
  • vacuuming up crumbs
  • finish vacuuming
  • hate / enjoy vacuuming
Synonyms
  • hoovering

    British informal, from the Hoover brand; identical meaning

  • sweeping

    uses a broom on hard floors; not for thick carpets

Grammar Patterns

vacuum + [surface]

be + vacuuming

do the vacuuming

vacuum up + [debris]

Usage Note

Frequently used as a gerund standing in for the chore itself ('I hate vacuuming', 'do the vacuuming'). Object choice matters: a surface goes straight after the verb ('vacuum the rug'), but loose mess takes the particle 'up' ('vacuum up the crumbs'). In British English, the informal verb 'hoover' is often used instead.

Common Mistakes

I am vacuum the carpet now.
I am vacuuming the carpet now.
after 'be', use the -ing form for an action in progress.
Reema vacuumed the dust off the table.
Reema vacuumed up the dust from the table.
small loose particles are the object of 'vacuum up', not bare 'vacuum'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four describe removing dirt from surfaces, but they differ by tool and context. 'Vacuum' (the base form behind 'vacuuming') is the standard American and international term for using a powered suction machine on floors, carpets, and upholstery. 'Hoover' is the British informal equivalent — taken from the Hoover brand and used as both a noun and a verb ('I'll hoover the stairs'). 'Sweep' uses a broom and works only on hard floors; you cannot sweep a thick rug effectively. 'Dust' targets thin layers of dust on furniture, shelves, or ornaments, usually with a soft cloth — never with a machine. So a typical Sunday clean might include sweeping the kitchen tiles, vacuuming the bedroom carpet, and dusting the bookshelves.

vacuum ↗hoover ↗sweep ↗dust ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • do the vacuuming
  • finish vacuuming
  • vacuum up the crumbs

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The verb 'vacuum' was coined in the early 20th century from the noun 'vacuum' (Latin 'vacuus' = empty), once electric machines that cleaned by suction became common in homes. 'Vacuuming' is its present participle and gerund form, and quickly became the everyday name for the chore itself.