precipitating

/prɪˈsɪpɪteɪtɪŋ/

adjective

  1. causing something, especially something bad or unwanted, to happen suddenly or sooner

    C1

    usually before a nounformal

    • "The report identified several precipitating factors behind the crisis."B2
    • "A sudden loss of confidence was the precipitating cause of the market collapse."C1
    • "Historians still debate the precipitating event that led to the war."C2

  2. causing a solid substance to separate from a liquid in a chemical reaction

    C2

    technical, usually before a nountechnical

    • "The lab added a precipitating agent to the solution."C1
    • "Calcium ions play a precipitating role in this reaction."C2

verb

  1. present participle of 'precipitate': to make something happen suddenly or sooner

    C1

    transitive; present participle of precipitateformal

    • "A sharp rise in prices is precipitating widespread protests."C1
    • "Poor communication precipitated the breakdown of the talks."C1
    • "The scandal precipitated his resignation within days."C2

  2. present participle of 'precipitate': to cause a solid to form and separate from a solution

    C2

    transitive; technical; present participle of precipitatetechnical

    • "The chemical is precipitating salt from the solution."C1

Common mistakes

  • a precipitating drop in temperature→a precipitous drop in temperature

    Use 'precipitous' for steep or very sudden changes; 'precipitating' means causing something to happen.

Collocations

precipitating factorprecipitating causeprecipitating event

Word family

precipitateprecipitationprecipitousprecipitouslyprecipitant