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

• smear
• paint
• coat

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

Thus anointed, Irving went on to become America’s original literary celebrity. —John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025

More than one described him as carrying the aura of a wunderkind, the kind of figure Silicon Valley has long been eager to anoint. —Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025

Pinochet, a virulent anti-communist and Germanophile, was anointed as head of a four-man Military Junta, and later President of Chile. —Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2025

In 2006, Schottenheimer became one of the youngest coordinators in NFL history when Eric Mangini anointed the 32-year-old as the offensive coordinator for the Jets after five seasons as quarterbacks coach for Washington and San Diego under his father, Marty. —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Oct. 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