print

1 of 3

noun

1
a
: a mark made by pressure : impression
b
: something impressed with a print or formed in a mold
2
a
: printed state or form
b
: the printing industry
3
b
prints plural : printed publications
4
: printed letters : type
5
a(1)
: a copy made by printing
(2)
: a reproduction of an original work of art (such as a painting) made by a photomechanical process
(3)
: an original work of art (such as a woodcut, etching, or lithograph) intended for graphic reproduction and produced by or under the supervision of the artist who designed it
b
: cloth with a pattern or figured design applied by printing
also : an article of such cloth
c
: a photographic or motion-picture copy
especially : one made from a negative

print

2 of 3

verb

printed; printing; prints

transitive verb

1
a
: to impress something in or on
b
: to stamp (something, such as a mark) in or on something
2
a
: to make a copy of by impressing paper against an inked printing surface
b(1)
: to impress (something, such as wallpaper) with a design or pattern
(2)
: to impress (a pattern or design) on something
c
: to publish in print
d
: print out
also : to display on a surface (such as a computer screen) for viewing
3
: to write in letters shaped like those of ordinary roman text type
4
: to make (a positive picture) on a sensitized photographic surface from a negative or a positive

intransitive verb

1
a
: to work as a printer
b
: to produce printed matter
2
: to produce something in printed form
3
: to write or hand-letter in imitation of unjoined printed characters

print

3 of 3

adjective

: of, relating to, or writing for printed publications
print journalists
Phrases
in print
: procurable from the publisher
out of print
: not procurable from the publisher

Examples of print in a Sentence

Noun What is the print size of your book? an exhibit of 16th-century German prints Verb We printed 50 invitations before we ran out of ink. The new machine prints 30 pages per minute. Your tickets are being printed now. a slogan printed on a bumper sticker Your tickets are printing now. This printer allows you to print on both sides of a sheet of paper. They printed 10,000 copies of the book's new edition. I'm surprised they printed that cartoon in the paper. Her picture was printed in a magazine last month.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
It is outfitted with a high wood-vaulted ceiling, colorful murals, whimsical prints by local artists, sleek half-booth style seating and a rustic, yet modern, bar. Morgan Fischer, The Arizona Republic, 22 Apr. 2024 The running time of the Westwood print was 139 minutes, shaving 20 to 35 minutes off earlier screenings. Thomas Doherty, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for print 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'print.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English prente, from Anglo-French, from preint, prient, past participle of priendre to press, from Latin premere — more at press

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Adjective

1922, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of print was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near print

Cite this Entry

“Print.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/print. Accessed 4 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

print

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: a mark made by pressure
b
: something that has been stamped with an impression or formed in a mold
a print of butter
2
a
: printed state or form
put a manuscript into print
b
: printed matter
c
: printed letters
3
: a picture, copy, or design made by printing (as from an engraving or a photographic negative)
4
a
: cloth with a printed pattern
b
: an article of such cloth

print

2 of 2 verb
1
: to put or stamp something in or on
2
a
: to make a copy of by pressing paper against an inked surface (as type or an engraving)
b
: to stamp with a design by pressure
print wallpaper
c
: to publish in printed form
print a newspaper
d
: to write or cause to be written on a surface (as a computer display screen) for viewing
the computer will print the message at the top of the screen
e
3
: to write in separate letters like those made by a typewriter
4
: to make a picture from a photographic negative

More from Merriam-Webster on print

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