powdered; powdering
ˈpau̇-d(ə-)riŋ 
1
: to sprinkle or cover with or as if with powder
2
: to reduce or convert to powder
3
: to hit very hard
often attributive
1
: matter in a finely divided state : particulate matter
2
a
: a preparation in the form of fine particles especially for medicinal or cosmetic use
b
: fine dry light snow
3
: any of various solid explosives used chiefly in gunnery and blasting
see also take a powder
Synonyms
Examples of powder in a Sentence
Verb
She powdered her face and put on lipstick.
you have to powder the antibiotic tablet and mix it with food
Noun
The powder is made from the roots of the plant.
Mix together the different powders.
She crushed the peppercorns into a fine powder.
We're running low on baby powder and diapers.
We woke this morning to several inches of fresh powder on the ground.
Recent Examples on the Web
Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2024
Underneath was a modest slick of crème fraîche powdered with caraway.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2024
Possession of crack in those years got sentences that averaged 4.8 times longer than if the cocaine had been powdered, according to the Department of Justice.
—Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024
What could have been an ordinary moment of Chappelle smoking a cigarette while standing on a Paris street at night wearing an overcoat, hoodie, jeans and sneakers, became mythical as Bitton captured it, with snow falling all around Chappelle and powdering the ground.
—Pamela Chelin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2024
Powers’ Double Shooting Star: 2 eggs 3 ounces superfine sugar (not powdered)
4 ounces milk
2 ounces heavy cream
4 ounces Southern Star Double Shot
4 ounces Southern Star Standard High Rye Bourbon
fresh nutmeg
coffee bean
Method of preparation:
Beat eggs on low to medium for about a minute.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 29 Jan. 2024
To call forth Minaj’s natural glow, McGrath powdered on the highlighters and blushes from her Divine Glow and Divine Blush ranges.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 21 Dec. 2023
From there, consumers have a wide range of ways to eat it, from fresh salads, pickled, or even powdered and sprinkled on pasta and pizza for a little kick of extra nutrients.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 26 Oct. 2023
Ingredients 2 cups salted butter 6 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup (2 oz.) bourbon
1 Tbsp.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2023
Liv Dansky, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2024
Officers also seized 30 firearms, 3 pounds of cocaine base, nearly 8 pounds of cocaine powder, 350 grams of methamphetamine, 726 fentanyl pills and more than $79,000 in cash, officials said.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2024
But this mineral sunscreen powder does have a lot to offer.
—Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 24 Apr. 2024
Here at the nation’s first commercial direct air capture facility, towering trays of limestone mineral powder are working round-the-clock to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
—Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024
The mixture should bubble immediately; if not, replace your baking powder.
—Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 18 Apr. 2024
The newest one is this collagen powder made with pure, unflavored, powdered beef collagen.
—Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024
There no need for any special tools, powders, or topcoats.
—Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 12 Apr. 2024
Davidson, a Black woman who is 5-feet, 4-inches and weighs approximately 200 pounds, was last seen wearing a long pink dress and jacket with powder pink Nike sneakers, per a Facebook post by police, which details the missing person’s case.
—Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024
Verb
In the 20th century, semi-secretive, as a lady might admit to powdering her nose but not to reddening her cheeks.
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2024
Underneath was a modest slick of crème fraîche powdered with caraway.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2024
Possession of crack in those years got sentences that averaged 4.8 times longer than if the cocaine had been powdered, according to the Department of Justice.
—Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024
What could have been an ordinary moment of Chappelle smoking a cigarette while standing on a Paris street at night wearing an overcoat, hoodie, jeans and sneakers, became mythical as Bitton captured it, with snow falling all around Chappelle and powdering the ground.
—Pamela Chelin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2024
Powers’ Double Shooting Star: 2 eggs 3 ounces superfine sugar (not powdered)
4 ounces milk
2 ounces heavy cream
4 ounces Southern Star Double Shot
4 ounces Southern Star Standard High Rye Bourbon
fresh nutmeg
coffee bean
Method of preparation:
Beat eggs on low to medium for about a minute.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 29 Jan. 2024
To call forth Minaj’s natural glow, McGrath powdered on the highlighters and blushes from her Divine Glow and Divine Blush ranges.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 21 Dec. 2023
From there, consumers have a wide range of ways to eat it, from fresh salads, pickled, or even powdered and sprinkled on pasta and pizza for a little kick of extra nutrients.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 26 Oct. 2023
Ingredients 2 cups salted butter 6 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup (2 oz.) bourbon
1 Tbsp.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2023
Noun
Decorate with remaining 1 tablespoon strawberry powder and nonpareils.
—Liv Dansky, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2024
Officers also seized 30 firearms, 3 pounds of cocaine base, nearly 8 pounds of cocaine powder, 350 grams of methamphetamine, 726 fentanyl pills and more than $79,000 in cash, officials said.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2024
But this mineral sunscreen powder does have a lot to offer.
—Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 24 Apr. 2024
Here at the nation’s first commercial direct air capture facility, towering trays of limestone mineral powder are working round-the-clock to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
—Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024
The mixture should bubble immediately; if not, replace your baking powder.
—Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 18 Apr. 2024
The newest one is this collagen powder made with pure, unflavored, powdered beef collagen.
—Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024
There no need for any special tools, powders, or topcoats.
—Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 12 Apr. 2024
Davidson, a Black woman who is 5-feet, 4-inches and weighs approximately 200 pounds, was last seen wearing a long pink dress and jacket with powder pink Nike sneakers, per a Facebook post by police, which details the missing person’s case.
—Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'powder.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near powder
Cite this Entry
“Powder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/powder. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
powder
1 of 2 noun
pow·der
ˈpau̇d-ər
1
a
: dry material made up of fine particles
b
: something (as a food, medicine, or cosmetic) made in or changed to the form of a powder
2
: a solid explosive used in shooting or blasting
powder
2 of 2 verb1
: to sprinkle or cover with or as if with powder
2
: to crush to or become powder
powderer
noun
-ər-ər
Medical Definition
powder
noun
pow·der
ˈpau̇d-ər
: a product in the form of discrete usually fine particles
specifically
: a medicine or medicated preparation in the form of a powder
antiseptic powder
digestive powder
Geographical Definition
Powder
geographical name
Pow·der
ˈpau̇-dər
1
river 150 miles (241 kilometers) long in eastern Oregon flowing into the Snake River
2
river 375 miles (604 kilometers) long in northern Wyoming and southeastern Montana flowing north into the Yellowstone River
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share