What does barking mean?
"Barking" is the noun and verb form describing the sharp, loud, repetitive vocalization most characteristically produced by dogs, though foxes and some other animals make comparable sounds. It is among the most familiar sounds of everyday life, typically signalling alarm, excitement, territorial defence, or a demand for attention. Beyond its literal sense, "barking" appears in several established idioms: "barking up the wrong tree" means pursuing a mistaken course of action, while British informal speech uses "barking mad" to describe someone wildly eccentric or crazy. In medicine, a "barking cough" is the harsh, seal-like cough characteristic of croup in young children. The word derives from Old English "beorcan", meaning to bark or yap, giving English a vocabulary of canine sound that has been in continuous use for over a thousand years. Whether describing a restless neighbourhood dog or a mistaken accusation, "barking" remains a vivid, instantly understood word in both literal and figurative contexts.
The sharp, loud sound made by a dog; a dry, harsh cough resembling such a sound.
"The constant barking next door was driving her to distraction."
Uncountable when referring to the activity or sound generally; occasionally countable in phrases like "a few angry barkings" (rare).
Present participle of "bark": to make or utter a sharp, loud cry, as a dog does.
"The dog was barking furiously at the delivery driver."
Attributive use describing something resembling a bark, as in "barking cough" or, informally, "barking mad".
"He was sent home with what turned out to be barking cough and a mild fever."
Dogs aren't just being noisy when they bark — wild adult wolves rarely bark at all, suggesting barking is largely a product of domestication.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of barking
Barking comes from the verb "bark", which descends from Old English "beorcan", meaning to bark or yelp, a word of Germanic origin related to similar verbs in other Germanic languages. The form has been used continuously since Middle English, retaining its core sense of a dog's sharp cry across more than a millennium of English. Its figurative idioms, such as "barking up the wrong tree", arose much later, in early nineteenth-century America.
Related word forms
How barking is actually used
Most often used attributively or in reference to dogs' noise; figurative uses like "barking mad" (British informal for crazy) are well established but colloquial.
Easily confused with barking
"Backing" means support or reinforcement (financial, moral, or musical accompaniment), while "barking" refers to a dog's sharp cry.