Definition, synonyms and related words
A water sport involving racing, or doing tricks in, a kayak
"The team practiced kayaking by performing daring flips and sprints down the river rapids."
In plain English: Kayaking is when you sit inside a small boat and use two paddles to move through water.
"The group enjoyed kayaking on the calm lake all afternoon."
Usage: While often used interchangeably with canoeing by casual observers, kayaking specifically refers to paddling from the seated position using a double-bladed paddle. Avoid confusing this activity with whitewater rafting, which involves standing and maneuvering an inflatable boat rather than a rigid shell.
present participle of kayak
"The paddler was kayaking down the river when they suddenly spotted a duck family resting on a log."
In plain English: Kayaking is when you paddle a small boat with a double-bladed oar on water.
"We spent all morning kayaking down the calm river until we reached the waterfall."
The word kayaking comes from combining the noun kayak with the suffix -ing to describe the activity of paddling a small boat. It entered English as a direct reference to this recreational sport rather than describing an inherent quality of the vessel itself.