billing

/ˈbɪlɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbɪlɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbi-liŋ/ (ame, mw)

billing — noun

1. the work of preparing invoices and sending them to customers so the customers kn

1.名詞B2
釋義

the work of preparing invoices and sending them to customers so the customers know how much they must pay for goods or services they have used.

例句

Bram works in the hospital's billing department and answers patient questions about insurance.

noun modifier: billing department

Our gym switched to monthly billing, so members pay on the first day of each month.

collocation: monthly billing / billing cycle

同義詞
  • invoicing

    very close in meaning; common in business-to-business contexts

  • charging

    broader; can mean asking for money in any way, not only by formal bill

文法句型

billing for [service]

billing cycle

用法筆記

Almost always uncountable. Frequently used as a noun modifier in fixed phrases like 'billing department', 'billing cycle', 'billing address', and 'billing error'.

常見錯誤

❌I received my billings yesterday.
✅I received my bill yesterday.
💡a single piece of paper asking for money is a 'bill'; 'billing' is the whole process.
❌The shop did a billing of $200.
✅The shop sent me a bill for $200.
💡'billing' is not used to mean a single charge or amount.

2. the way a show, concert, or film is described to the public in advertising, espe

2.名詞C1
釋義

the way a show, concert, or film is described to the public in advertising, especially the praise or claims made about how good or exciting it will be.

例句

The festival's advance billing promised a magical evening of jazz under the stars.

collocation: advance billing

Critics said the new musical did not live up to its billing as the show of the year.

collocation: live up to its billing

同義詞
  • promotion

    broader; covers any marketing, not just printed advertising for a show

  • publicity

    focuses on public attention generated; billing focuses on how the act is described

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 by context: this sense always relates to performances or shows, not money. Often appears in the fixed phrase 'live up to its/the billing' meaning to be as good as the advertising said.

常見錯誤

❌The poster has a nice billing for the band.
✅The poster gives the band nice billing.
💡the show or performer 'gets' or 'receives' billing; the billing is not 'on' the poster as a thing.

3. the position given to a performer's name on a poster or programme compared to th

3.名詞C1
釋義

the position given to a performer's name on a poster or programme compared to the other performers, showing how important their role in the show is.

例句

Kalani was thrilled to get top billing on the new Broadway musical.

collocation: top billing

The veteran actor agreed to take second billing behind the young star.

collocation: second billing

同義詞
  • top spot

    informal; refers to the best position on a list, including non-show contexts

  • headline position

    phrase for the same idea; emphasises being the main attraction

文法句型

top / star / second billing

用法筆記

Subject of the verb is usually the performer, not the show. Common verbs with this sense are 'get', 'receive', 'take', 'share', and 'give'. Almost always preceded by an adjective like 'top', 'star', 'second', or 'equal'.

常見錯誤

❌She had a high billing in the film.
✅She got top billing in the film.
💡the standard adjectives are 'top', 'star', 'second', or 'equal', not 'high' or 'big'.