# licking

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈlɪkɪŋ/ · frequency rank #14,784

## Definitions
1. The act by which something is licked.
2. A severe beating.
3. A great loss or defeat.

## Easily confused with
- **living** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/licking-vs-living)
- **liking** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/licking-vs-liking)
- **lining** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/licking-vs-lining)
- **looking** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/licking-vs-looking)
- **listing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/licking-vs-listing)
- **lifting** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/licking-vs-lifting)
- **linking** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/licking-vs-linking)
- **locking** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/licking-vs-locking)
- **lurking** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/licking-vs-lurking)
- **limping** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/licking-vs-limping)
- **lacing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lacing-vs-licking)
- **lacking** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lacking-vs-licking)
- **leaking** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/leaking-vs-licking)

## Common misspellings (11)
`ilcking`, `lciking`, `liccking`, `licikng`, `lickign`, `lickingg`, `lickinng`, `lickking`, `licknig`, `likcing`, `llicking`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/licking