What does taxiing mean?
Taxiing is the present participle of taxi, with two established uses. Its best-known specialized sense is aviation: an aircraft is taxiing when it moves under its own power along the ground, usually on its way to or from a runway. In general travel contexts, taxiing means going somewhere in a taxi, although speakers often prefer the more idiomatic phrase “taking a taxi” or “taking a cab.” The form can function as a verb, as in “The plane is taxiing,” and as a participial adjective before a noun, as in “a taxiing aircraft.” It is understood in British and American English and appears in both technical aviation communication and ordinary conversation, though its aviation use is especially characteristic of professional language. Taxiing should not be confused with taxing, which means imposing a tax or creating a burden. The word belongs to a family rooted in the modern sense of a hired car: taxi, taxicab, and taximeter all reflect the same lexical lineage.
To travel in a taxi; in aviation, to move an aircraft slowly under its own power along the ground.
"The pilot continued taxiing while waiting for clearance to enter the runway."
The aviation use is standard in British and American aviation terminology.
Relating to or engaged in moving under a vehicle's own power along the ground, especially an aircraft taxiing.
"Controllers directed the taxiing aircraft toward a remote parking area."
This is primarily a participial adjectival use and is especially common in aviation contexts.
When an aircraft is taxiing, it is flying nowhere—yet moving under its own power across the ground.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does taxiing come from?
The English noun taxi entered use in the 18th century and ultimately derives from Greek taxis, meaning “arrangement” or “order,” through continental European forms. The verb taxi and its present-participle form taxiing developed from that noun; the aviation sense arose as the verb was adopted for describing the movement of aircraft on the ground. Taxicab and taximeter belong to the same lexical line, while taxis preserves the underlying Greek element.
Related word forms
How taxiing is actually used
The aviation sense is especially common in professional and operational English, including air-traffic and aviation communications. The passenger sense occurs in ordinary conversation, although speakers often prefer the more idiomatic expressions “taking a taxi” or “taking a cab.”
Easily confused with taxiing
Taxiing refers to travel in a taxi or the ground movement of an aircraft, whereas taxing means imposing a tax or creating a burden.