What does "hacking" mean?

Playful solving of technical work that requires deep understanding, especially of a computer system.

What is a synonym for "hacking"?

Common synonyms include: cab, chop, nag, nag, accomplish, amble.

//ˈhækɪŋ// adj, name, noun, verb

adj, name, noun, verb ·Uncommon ·College level

Noun

1
Playful solving of technical work that requires deep understanding, especially of a computer system. uncountable, usually
2
Unauthorized attempts to bypass the security mechanisms of an information system or network. uncountable, usually
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3
A dry coughing; the emission of a succession of short coughs. uncountable, usually
4
A kick in the shins. uncountable, usually
5
The act of striking the muscles with the side of the hand. uncountable, usually

Show 5 more definitions

6
A riding or journey on horseback. UK, countable, usually
7
The operation of working over the faces of rough or worn grindstones with a hack-hammer. obsolete, uncountable, usually
8
The separation of a course of stones into two smaller courses, when there are not enough large stones to form a single course. obsolete, uncountable, usually
9
The cuts and grooves made in the metal laps by holding the cutting edge of a steel blade against them while in motion, for the purpose of providing receptacles or pockets for the powders using in cutting and polishing gems. obsolete, uncountable, usually
10
The piling of bricks for drying. obsolete, uncountable, usually

Verb

Adjective

1
Short and interrupted, broken, jerky; hacky.
"A hacking cough. A hacking laugh. A hacking breath. A hacking cry."

Proper Noun

"This program is going to focus on computer hacking issues today."

Etymology 1

From Middle English *hackynge, hackande, hakand, equivalent to hack + -ing.

Etymology 2

From Middle English hackynge, hakkynge, hacckinge, equivalent to hack + -ing.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.