blackberry
To go out and gather wild blackberries from bushes, typically during late summer or early autumn. It describes the specific recreational or foraging activity of picking these berries in nature.
Examples
3 of 5Every year in late August, the children love to go blackberrying in the nearby fields.
Every year in late August, the children love to go pick blackberries in the nearby fields.
The estate owner granted the villagers permission to blackberry within the designated forest boundaries.
The estate owner granted the villagers permission to gather blackberries within the designated forest boundaries.
We spent the whole afternoon blackberrying and ended up with stained fingers and three full buckets.
We spent the whole afternoon picking blackberries and ended up with stained fingers and three full buckets.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Imagine your fingers turning 'black' after you 'berry' your hands into a bush to pick fruit.
Quick Quiz
The weather was perfect on Saturday, so we decided to go _______ in the woods.
Correct!
The correct answer is: blackberrying
Examples
Every year in late August, the children love to go blackberrying in the nearby fields.
everydayEvery year in late August, the children love to go pick blackberries in the nearby fields.
The estate owner granted the villagers permission to blackberry within the designated forest boundaries.
formalThe estate owner granted the villagers permission to gather blackberries within the designated forest boundaries.
We spent the whole afternoon blackberrying and ended up with stained fingers and three full buckets.
informalWe spent the whole afternoon picking blackberries and ended up with stained fingers and three full buckets.
Sociological studies of rural England often highlight the communal tradition of families who blackberry together.
academicSociological studies of rural England often highlight the communal tradition of families who gather blackberries together.
As part of the farm's diversification strategy, they now allow tourists to blackberry for a small fee.
businessAs part of the farm's diversification strategy, they now allow tourists to pick blackberries for a small fee.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
go blackberrying
the act of going to find and pick blackberries
stained with blackberry juice
marked or colored by the dark juice of the berry
blackberry season
the time of year when blackberries are ripe
Often Confused With
The former is an action or fruit, while the latter refers to a once-popular brand of mobile device.
Refers to picking blueberries, which usually grow on lower shrubs in different soil types.
Usage Notes
While 'blackberry' is most commonly a noun, using it as a verb (especially in the form 'blackberrying') is common in British English to describe the activity of foraging.
Common Mistakes
Learners often think they must always say 'pick blackberries' and are unaware that 'blackberrying' can function as a verb phrase for the whole activity.
Memory Tip
Imagine your fingers turning 'black' after you 'berry' your hands into a bush to pick fruit.
Word Origin
Derived from the Old English 'blaceberian', combining 'black' (referring to the ripe color) and 'berry'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In the United Kingdom and Ireland, blackberrying is a traditional late-summer activity tied to folklore, such as the belief not to pick them after Michaelmas.
Quick Quiz
The weather was perfect on Saturday, so we decided to go _______ in the woods.
Correct!
The correct answer is: blackberrying
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
proceed
C1The noun form, typically used in the plural 'proceeds,' refers to the total amount of money received from a particular event, sale, or activity. It is a formal term used in academic, legal, and business contexts to describe the result of a financial transaction or fundraising effort.
individual
C1Relating to a single person or thing as distinct from a group. It describes something that is intended for, or used by, one person rather than a collective entity.
appropriately
B2To perform an action in a manner that is suitable, right, or proper for a particular situation, person, or occasion. It implies following specific social norms, professional standards, or logical requirements.
region
B2A region is an area of land that has common features, such as geography, climate, or culture, which distinguish it from other areas. It can refer to a large part of a country or the world and is often used in administrative or scientific contexts to organize space.
resource
B2A stock or supply of money, materials, staff, and other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively. In academic and informational contexts, it refers to a source of information or expertise used to support research or learning.
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
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