What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
mouthing
Example
She was mouthing the words to the song while dancing. [mouthing: verb]
Example
The actor was mouthing his lines during the rehearsal. [mouthing: present participle]
miming
Example
The clown was miming his way through the imaginary wall. [miming: present participle]
Example
The mime artist performed a silent comedy routine. [miming: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Mouthing is more commonly used in everyday language than miming. Mouthing is often used in casual settings, such as singing along to a song or reciting lines from a movie, while miming is more commonly associated with performance arts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between mouthing and miming?
While mouthing can be used in both formal and informal contexts, miming is typically associated with a more formal tone and is used primarily in performance arts.
