1 [noncount] a : the activity or work of writing books, poems, stories, etc.
▪ Writing usually isn't a lucrative career, but it has been very fulfilling for me. ▪ She quit her job in order to concentrate on (her) writing. ▪ He teaches creative writing at the university. ▪ Few people nowadays care about the art of letter writing.
b : the way that you use written words to express your ideas or opinions
▪ The novel's plot is okay, but the writing is horrible. ▪ I asked a friend to critique my writing. ▪ Her essay was a wonderful piece of writing. ▪ She has a unique writing style. 2 : books, poems, essays, letters, etc. [noncount] ▪ Much of the best Japanese writing has not been translated into English. [plural] ▪ the writings of Benjamin Franklin ▪ a book of selected writings on moral philosophy 3 [noncount] : words, numbers, or symbols that have been written or printed on something
▪ Can you read the writing on this bottle? ▪ Japanese/Chinese/Arabic writing ▪ hieroglyphics and other early writing systems 4 [noncount] a : the activity or skill of forming letters and numbers with a pen, pencil, etc.
▪ She learned writing [=learned how to write] at a young age. ▪ Having a broken finger made writing difficult.
b : the particular way in which someone writes letters and numbers : handwriting
▪ Whose writing is this? ▪ Her writing is illegible.