What does opining mean?
Opining means expressing or giving one's opinion, particularly in a public, professional, or deliberative setting. It is the present participle of the verb “opine,” and it appears naturally in constructions such as “opining on” and “opining about.” The word is standard in British and American English, though it has a somewhat formal or literary tone and is more common in journalism, essays, and commentary than in everyday conversation. Opining does not necessarily mean holding an extreme view; it simply identifies the act of stating an opinion or entering a discussion about a subject. The term can also suggest that opinions are being offered for debate. Derived ultimately from Latin opinari, “to think, believe, or hold an opinion,” it has a clear etymological relationship with words such as “opinion” and “opination.” For precise writing, “opining on” may be replaced by “commenting on” or “expressing views on” when the emphasis is on discussion rather than personal opinion.
verbExpressing or giving one's opinion, especially in a considered or public context. It is the present participle of “opine.”
- Expressing or giving one's opinion, especially in a considered, public, or professional context.
"The newspaper invited readers to write in and opine on the proposed legislation."
"Scholars continued opining on the ethical implications of the new technology."
"Rather than opining on the dispute, she restricted herself to answering the question put to her."
From Latin opinari, meaning “to think or hold an opinion,” opining is literally the act of putting one's opinion into words.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does opining come from?
Opining derives from “opine,” which comes through French from Latin opinari, a verb meaning “to think, believe, or hold an opinion.” The present-participle form “opining” developed as a grammatical form of that inherited verb and later became common in discussion of public opinions and commentary. Related English words include “opinion,” “opination,” and “opinate,” all reflecting the same Latin root.
How opining is actually used
Opining is standard in formal and literary English and is especially common in journalism, commentary, and discussion. It can suggest that a view is being offered or debated, without necessarily implying that the speaker is strongly opinionated.
Easily confused with opining
Opining means expressing an opinion, whereas opinionated describes someone who holds strong views or expresses them forcefully.