Words / B1

BOM-ing/ˈbɒmɪŋ/

A bombing is an attack with bombs: a bombing campaign; the anniversary of the bombing. Blast is the explosion; bomb is the device (already in the dictionary). Uncountable when you mean the tactic (aerial bombing). Handle the topic factually in exams. Do not use bombing for a poor performance in sport (that slang is informal and US-leaning).

Meaning

An attack with a bomb or bombs.

Examples

• “The city marked the anniversary of the bombing with a silence.”
• “The city held a silence on the anniversary of the bombing.”
• “Historians compared the bombing of the docks with later raids.”

Good to know

a bombing; a bombing campaign. Device: bomb. Explosion: blast. Sport slang “bombing” = fail: avoid in formal work.

New