What does monkeying mean?
“Monkeying” means engaging in playful, silly, or mischievous activity, usually in a way that distracts others from what they are doing. The expression is most familiar in “monkey about” and “monkey around,” as in “The pupils were told to stop monkeying around in the classroom.” Its tone is generally informal and good-humored, but it can become mildly admonitory when used by someone telling another person to behave. In a technical or practical context, “monkeying with” can mean tinkering with or altering a device, often carelessly: “There is no point monkeying with the settings unless you know what you are doing.” The word derives from the older verb “monkey,” which originally meant to act like a monkey and came to include teasing, playing tricks, and interfering. As a present participle, “monkeying” can be used either in the playful sense or in the more specific sense of messing about with something.
verbTo behave in a playful, silly, or mischievous manner, especially in a way that interferes with others. It is most often used in the phrases “monkey about” and “monkey around.”
- To engage in playful, silly, or mischievous activity, especially while interfering with other activities.
"The children spent the afternoon monkeying about in the garden while the storm passed overhead."
"Stop monkeying around with the camera and let me take the photograph."
"Although the engineers were instructed to avoid monkeying with the system, they ran several unofficial tests."
When someone says “stop monkeying around,” playful mischief has become a minor distraction—and the animal behind the phrase never even enters the room.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does monkeying come from?
“Monkeying” is formed from the verb “monkey” by adding the present-participle ending -ing. The verb developed from the earlier animal name “monkey” and originally conveyed acting in a monkey-like or mischievous fashion before acquiring the modern meanings of fooling around and tinkering. The deeper origin of the animal name “monkey” is uncertain, although it is generally associated with a South Asian source and entered English through European contact with Asian languages.
Related word forms
How monkeying is actually used
This is an informal word, and it usually has a mildly reproachful or humorous tone. “Monkey about” is especially common in British English, while “monkey around” is common in both British and American English. It can also describe casual tinkering with something, often in the phrase “monkey with.”