What does fancying mean?
Fancying is the present participle and gerund of the verb 'fancy,' a versatile English word whose core meanings involve desire and imagination. In its most familiar modern use, particularly in British English, fancying someone means feeling attracted to them or taking a romantic liking to them — the everyday counterpart of having a crush. The verb also expresses a simple appetite or inclination: one might find oneself fancying a cup of tea or a slice of cake. A third sense involves imagining or picturing something, often without realistic grounds. The word derives from 'fancy,' itself a contraction of 'fantasy,' tracing back through Middle English to the Latin root behind Greek 'phantasia,' meaning appearance or imagination. Informal and conversational in tone, fancying is especially characteristic of British speech, where asking what someone is 'fancying' for dinner is entirely ordinary. Its blend of romance, appetite, and daydream makes it a compact expression of wanting.
Feeling attraction, liking, or desire for someone or something; imagining something fancifully.
"Are you fancying anything from the menu?"
In British English, 'fancying someone' typically implies romantic attraction; 'fancying something' implies a craving or inclination.
The action or state of feeling a desire, liking, or fondness for someone or something.
"His fancying of his colleague was obvious to everyone in the office."
As a gerund, the noun use is relatively uncommon compared with the participial verb form.
'Fancy' began as a shortened form of 'fantasy' — so when you say you're fancying someone, you're literally indulging in a tiny fantasy.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of fancying
Fancying descends from the verb 'fancy,' which emerged in Middle English as a shortened form of 'fantasy,' ultimately from the Greek 'phantasia' via Latin, meaning appearance, image, or imagination. Over time 'fancy' split from its longer sibling, developing senses of whim, taste, and liking alongside its older meaning of imagination. The verb's use for romantic attraction became especially established in British English, while related cognates such as 'fantasy,' 'fantastic,' and 'phantasy' retained more purely imaginative connotations.
Related word forms
How fancying is actually used
The sense 'fancying someone' as romantic attraction is strongly associated with British English; American speakers more often say 'liking' or 'having a crush on.' The gerund use ('fancying a coffee') is likewise chiefly British and informal. The word carries a casual, conversational register.
Easily confused with fancying
'Facing' means turning toward or confronting something, while 'fancying' means desiring or being attracted to it.
'Fantasizing' refers to elaborate imaginative daydreams, whereas 'fancying' is usually a lighter feeling of liking or desire.