anoint

verb

ə-ˈnȯint 

anointed; anointing; anoints

transitive verb

1

: to smear or rub with oil or an oily substance

2

a

: to apply oil to as part of a religious ceremony

The priest anointed the sick.

b

: to choose by or as if by divine election

anoint him as his successor

also : to designate as if by a ritual anointment

Critics have anointed her as an important new literary figure.

anointer noun

anointment

ə-ˈnȯint-mənt 

noun

Synonyms

• bedaub
• besmear
• daub
• smear

Examples of anoint in a Sentence

The magazine anointed her the most popular actress of the year.

anoint the wound with antiseptic to prevent infection

Recent Examples on the Web

Upon wrapping Civil War, Garland decided to turn the harrowing account in their follow-up film, anointing Mendoza as co-writer and co-director of Warfare. —Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2025

The Rockies, Giants and D-backs have all anointed young closers who’ll make the major league minimum $800,000. —Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 23 Mar. 2025

Still in tears, Shauna scribbles on a notepad what becomes the narration for the wilderness timeline, as teen Shauna (Sophie Nélisse) is anointed the hive’s new Antler Queen. —Lauren Coates, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025

Several of these texts mentioned anointing statues of Greek and Roman deities—including one depicting Artemis, the Greek goddess of wild animals, in Sicily. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French enoint, past participle of enoindre, from Latin inunguere, from in- + unguere to smear — more at ointment

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for anoint

• adjoint
• appoint
• checkpoint
• conjoint
• disjoint
• endpoint
• gunpoint
• midpoint
• nonpoint
• pinpoint
• standpoint
• viewpoint

Kids Definition

anoint

verb

ə-ˈnȯint 

1

: to rub over with oil or an oily substance

2

: to put oil on as part of a religious ceremony

anointer noun

anointment

-mənt 

noun