Bingeing or Binging | Meaning & Use
Bingeing and binging are both acceptable spellings of the present participle and gerund of the verb “binge.”
- My brother loves bingeing snacks while playing video games.
- My brother loves binging snacks while playing video games.
Bingeing or binging
The verb “binge” means “to indulge in excess,” especially when it comes to food, alcohol, or drugs. It’s also been more commonly used over the last decade or so to refer to watching many episodes of a TV show at once.
When forming the present participle of “binge,” both bingeing and binging are correct. These words are interchangeable and are homophones. There’s no specific rule on when to use bingeing or binging; each writer should use the most natural option for them.
Some prefer bingeing to avoid confusion about the pronunciation of the word; binging is pronounced with a soft “g,” but some other words that look similar (e.g., “bringing”) are pronounced with a hard “g”. On the other hand, some prefer binging, as many other verbs in English drop an “e” in the present participle form (e.g., “aging” or “plunging”).
Present participles can take direct objects, which means you can reference the thing being binged.
| Bingeing | Binging |
|---|---|
| He’s bingeing his favorite show all weekend. | He’s binging his favorite show all weekend. |
| We usually eat healthy, but this Christmas we’ll be bingeing. | We usually eat healthy, but this Christmas we’ll be binging. |
| She’s been bingeing a lot lately. Maybe someone should speak with her. | She’s been binging a lot lately. Maybe someone should speak with her. |
Bingeing or binging can also be used as the gerund of “binge,” meaning it works as a noun. Gerunds can also take direct objects.
| Bingeing | Binging |
|---|---|
| Bingeing fast food frequently is bad for your health. | Binging fast food frequently is bad for your health. |
| Bingeing alcohol and drugs was a real problem for him last year, but he’s seemed to clean himself up. | Binging alcohol and drugs was a real problem for him last year, but he’s seemed to clean himself up. |
| Sometimes, bingeing a good TV show is the best plan for a Saturday night. | Sometimes, binging a good TV show is the best plan for a Saturday night. |
- Binge-watching
- Binge-eating
- Binge-drinking
For example, “He was binge-drinking last night” might feel more comfortable to write than “He was bingeing (or binging) drinks last night.”
Frequently asked questions about bingeing or binging
- What does bingeable mean?
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The adjective “bingeable” means that something is able to be “binged.” The verb “binge” means “to indulge in excess.”
Some other forms of “binge” include:
- Binged (simple past and past participle)
- Has or have binged (present perfect)
- Bingeing or binging (present participle and gerund)
A QuillBot Grammar Check can make sure you use all these forms correctly.
