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

Another opportunist sent him two baseballs, asking for them to be forwarded to His Holiness, newly anointed as the world’s most famous White Sox fan. —Belinda Luscombe, Time, 1 July 2025

In June 2022, Forbes anointed golf star Tiger Woods a billionaire, owing his impressive status to his various championship wins and numerous endorsements, including Gatorade and Nike. —Diane J. Cho, People.com, 28 June 2025

At the direction of God, the prophet Samuel anoints an unlikely, outcast teenager as the new king. —Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 24 June 2025

The Yankees loved Rice’s exit velocity throughout spring training and anointed hm into the DH mix when Giancarlo Stanton went down with tendon issues in both elbows. —Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 27 June 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