perching

verb

present participle of perch
1
as in landing
to come to rest after descending from the air pigeons perching on the roof

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nestling
to establish or place comfortably or snugly perched the baby in a basket

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of perching The Ice Dart belongs to a broader push in robotics called perching, an approach borrowed from nature that tries to give drones the ability to grab onto surfaces the way birds, insects, and geckos do. — New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026 On the heels of the death of his longtime mate Jackie, bald eagle Shadow has been perching, singing and lounging at his Big Bear nest with a new companion. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026 Birdwatchers said Kaydee and Shadow have been flying around together for the past couple of days, flying to different trees and sometimes perching themselves on different branches for hours. — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026 The space is pristine and remote, surrounded by woods and loons and big muscular-looking boulders for perching on and thinking deep thoughts. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026 Blue dashers perch on short reeds and grasses to wait for prey, but each species of perching dragonfly has its own preference for perch height and type. — Rachel Sargent Mirus, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026 Sandy was spotted later in the day perching on top of a sugar pine tree. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 2 July 2026 Under New York law, climbing a traffic-light pole or perching on its crossbars is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both. — Antonio Ferme, Variety, 14 June 2026 Inspired by the observation that hummingbirds spend the majority of their time perching in trees post-feeding, Pop's created a swing to serve as a resting perch that also gave enthusiasts the chance to observe these magical birds. — ABC News, 8 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perching
  1. landing
  2. nestling
  3. roosting
  4. lodging
  5. alighting
  6. positioning
  7. parking
  8. settling
Verb
  • At one moment, the inspector observed two flies landing on an RPT handle and another landed on the counter in front of the handle near a cutting board.
    — Joseph Hernandez August 31, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Rookies ultimately have to master such challenges as flight dynamics, parachute malfunctions, and landing in dangerous conditions.
    — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of landing
Verb
  • Add a striking focal point by nestling a statue fountain between groups of colorful flowers or lively foliage.
    — Savanna Bous, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Game by game, San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama is nestling himself into historical statistical company alongside some of the most vaunted NBA names ever.
    — Devon Henderson, New York Times, 19 May 2026
Definition of nestling
Verb
  • Their range spans northern Mexico to southern Canada, but northern Arizona is a hotspot — the bats have taken to roosting on the walls of the Grand Canyon.
    — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • To search for evidence of fire use, the researchers analyzed rodent bones littering the cave, deposited over thousands of years by roosting owls.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
Definition of roosting
Verb
  • In July 2025, a destructive wildfire tore through dense pines on the canyon’s northern edge, destroying the historic Grand Canyon Lodge — the park’s only lodging there.
    — Chris Boyette, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
  • State park overnight lodging costs between $60 to $120 per night, with deluxe lodging $160 per night.
    — Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of lodging
Verb
  • The book always came to mind when taking a walk out in the forest and seeing the hypnotic curl of a fern or a bird alighting on a branch inches away from me.
    — Harry Bennett, Space.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Over a career spanning six decades, Herzog has become one of the most influential figures in international cinema, working on around 80 films often alighting on the subjects of obsession, extreme situations and the contradictions of human nature.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of alighting
Verb
  • Syria’s leaders are now positioning the country to benefit from a resurgence of regional turmoil.
    — Jesse Marks, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Consistent social media and touring, including opening for Zach Bryan, amplified their reach, positioning the album as a forward-looking evolution.
    — Olivia Shalhoup, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of positioning
Verb
  • Try to keep parking clear in front of your home so that workers are less likely to park elsewhere.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2025
Definition of parking
Verb
  • Brighton could progress the ball into Chelsea’s third and then settle into possession, becoming comfortable enough to maintain it, with the Chelsea players settling into a block.
    — Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Average daily volume across US prediction markets reached nearly $2 billion in July, settling everything from Fed decisions to World Cup outcomes to Congressional votes.
    — Semafor Events, semafor.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of settling

Browse Nearby Words

perches
perching
percipience
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Cite this Entry

“Perching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perching. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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