angling

IPA/ˈæŋɡlɪŋ/
KK[ˈæŋɡlɪŋ]IPA/ˈæŋɡlɪŋ/

angling — noun

1. a pastime done beside water, in which people use a fishing rod with a line and a

1.nounB2
Definition

a pastime done beside water, in which people use a fishing rod with a line and a baited hook to try and catch fish from a river, lake, or the sea

Example

Priya goes angling every Sunday morning at the lake near her house.

goes angling

Theo's grandfather taught him how to cast a line when angling for trout.

angling for trout

Common collocations
  • go angling
  • angling for trout / bass / salmon
  • angling rod
  • angling trip
  • angling club
Synonyms
  • fishing

    a broader, more common word that covers any method of catching fish (netting, spearing, trapping); angling is a specific type of fishing

  • rod fishing

    sometimes used to emphasise the equipment, but far less common than 'angling' or 'fishing'

Grammar Patterns

go + angling

angling + for + fish type

Usage Note

Often found with the verb 'go' ('go angling') or after 'for' when specifying the target fish ('angling for bass'). In everyday conversation, most native speakers use the simpler word 'fishing'; 'angling' sounds more formal or technical.

Common Mistakes

I bought a net for angling.
I bought a rod and line for angling.
Angling specifically uses a rod, line, and hook, not a net or trap.
He went angling for shrimp in the river.
He went angling for trout in the river.
Angling is used for catching fish, not shellfish.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three words describe catching fish, but they differ in scope and method. 'Fishing' is the broad, everyday term — it covers every technique from using a simple hand line to commercial trawling. 'Angling' narrows this to a specific method: using a rod, line, and hook, usually as a sport or hobby rather than for a living. 'Fly fishing' is a sub-type of angling that uses an artificial 'fly' as bait and a specialised casting technique. In casual conversation, a person holding a rod by the river is 'fishing'; only in more careful or technical writing would a speaker say they are 'angling'. For example: 'We went fishing at the lake' (natural) versus 'We went angling for pike' (more deliberate, specifying the rod-and-line method).

fishing ↗rod fishingfly fishing

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'angling' comes from the Old English noun 'angel', meaning 'fish hook'. This 'angel' is related to the word 'angle' (the geometric term) because a fish hook is bent at an angle. The modern sense of fishing with a rod and hook took its current form in the 1500s.