underpainting
noun
un·der·paint·ing
ˈən-dər-ˌpān-tiŋ 
: preliminary painting
especially
: such painting done on a canvas or panel and covered completely or partially by the final layers of paint
Examples of underpainting in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The pro's underpainting technique, which has gone viral on social media, can now be achieved at home thanks to her Underpainting Palettes, which are available in three shades.
—
Jackie Fields, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Phillips’s underpainting technique layers contour and highlight beneath foundation for a natural finish.
—Rachel Burchfield, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
But the real secret sauce is Phillips' trademark application technique called 'underpainting.
—Megan Decker, Refinery29, 28 July 2025
Some of Saville’s experiments with bright underpainting were on display at the Albertina.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
Life’s big moments of bliss and sorrow are not unlike underpaintings, getting fuzzier as time marches on but never fully melting away.
—Grace Edquist, Vogue, 8 May 2025
For example, underpainting applies your contour under foundation for a more natural look.
—Lisa Desantis, Glamour, 6 Aug. 2024
Later on, much of the show’s visual language—muted color emerging from an underpainting of chalky grays—depends on an aura of wild urban unpredictability: Chicago as a hothouse of violent horrors and dark insinuations.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 26 July 2024
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Jackie Fields, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Phillips’s underpainting technique layers contour and highlight beneath foundation for a natural finish.
—Rachel Burchfield, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
But the real secret sauce is Phillips' trademark application technique called 'underpainting.
—Megan Decker, Refinery29, 28 July 2025
Some of Saville’s experiments with bright underpainting were on display at the Albertina.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
Life’s big moments of bliss and sorrow are not unlike underpaintings, getting fuzzier as time marches on but never fully melting away.
—Grace Edquist, Vogue, 8 May 2025
For example, underpainting applies your contour under foundation for a more natural look.
—Lisa Desantis, Glamour, 6 Aug. 2024
Later on, much of the show’s visual language—muted color emerging from an underpainting of chalky grays—depends on an aura of wild urban unpredictability: Chicago as a hothouse of violent horrors and dark insinuations.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 26 July 2024
Cite this Entry
“Underpainting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underpainting. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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