1
a
: a soft white, gray, or buff limestone composed chiefly of the shells of foraminifers
b
: a prepared form of chalk or a material resembling chalk especially when used (as for writing on blackboards) as a crayon
2
a
: a mark made with chalk
b
British
: a point scored in a game
chalked; chalking; chalks
1
: to write or draw with chalk
2
: to rub or mark with chalk
: to become chalky
the paint had begun to chalk
Examples of chalk in a Sentence
Noun
The teacher handed her a piece of chalk and asked her to write the answer on the chalkboard.
He put chalk marks on the stage to show the actors where they should stand.
They drew pictures on the sidewalk with colored chalks.
Verb
She chalked a message on the side of the barn.
He chalked the stage to show the actors where they should stand.
Recent Examples on the Web
Monica Hooper, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2023
Jaq Jaq Bird’s chalk coloring book offers reusable pages that kids can fill, wipe and refill as the mood strikes.
—Korin Miller, wsj.com, 15 Nov. 2023
Often — as in downtown Oceanside — there’s a chance for the public to draw remembrances, including a section for pets, with chalk on the sidewalk.
—Lola Sherman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2023
Another snap was an overhead shot of Ender, who was seen sitting on the ground in a light blue sweatshirt, white and red striped pants and brown cowboy boots while holding pink chalk in his hand.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 3 Nov. 2023
Person passes a Potbelly Sandwich Shop, a Steak ’n Shake and a restaurant where someone has scrawled drink specials in pink chalk on the sidewalk.
—Danielle Paquette, Washington Post, 1 Nov. 2023
Andrews caught the ball, lowered his shoulder and extended just over the white chalk of the goal line.
—Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 18 Sep. 2023
There will be food trucks and an area for children to draw with chalk, so bring the whole family.
—Chelsea Hylton, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023
Use washable chalk markers to trace the design onto a gourd and Lino Cut tools to carve away the surface skin.
—Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, 25 Aug. 2023
José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 9 Nov. 2023
Phil, the quieter of the pair, chalks it up to pure coincidence.
—Aria Bendix, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2023
Coach Dave Simon chalked it up to the ancillary factors that accompany playing the first match of the season.
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2023
Lee chalked it up to a small percent of attendees behaving selfishly.
—Dino Grandoni and Kim Bellware, Anchorage Daily News, 6 Sep. 2023
If Libby Edelman seems to love horseback riding, chalk it up to her husband and business partner, Sam.
—Elle.com, ELLE, 5 Sep. 2023
The Cardiff woman had chalked it up to simple irritation from her daily contact lenses, according to a report in The Daily Mail.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, Peoplemag, 18 Sep. 2023
Like his neighbors, Hill chalks it up to the nature of business.
—Shauna Stuart | Sstuart@al.com, al, 1 Sep. 2023
The plaintiffs are challenging the city's decades-old practice of chalking tires to check whether a car has moved, claiming that the practice violates the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches.
—John Fritze, USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2023
See More
Noun
This year's Treat Street, with Granny Boo story time, face painting, chalk art, a craft station and more, is noon to 2 p.m. Oct. 28.
—Monica Hooper, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2023
Jaq Jaq Bird’s chalk coloring book offers reusable pages that kids can fill, wipe and refill as the mood strikes.
—Korin Miller, wsj.com, 15 Nov. 2023
Often — as in downtown Oceanside — there’s a chance for the public to draw remembrances, including a section for pets, with chalk on the sidewalk.
—Lola Sherman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2023
Another snap was an overhead shot of Ender, who was seen sitting on the ground in a light blue sweatshirt, white and red striped pants and brown cowboy boots while holding pink chalk in his hand.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 3 Nov. 2023
Person passes a Potbelly Sandwich Shop, a Steak ’n Shake and a restaurant where someone has scrawled drink specials in pink chalk on the sidewalk.
—Danielle Paquette, Washington Post, 1 Nov. 2023
Andrews caught the ball, lowered his shoulder and extended just over the white chalk of the goal line.
—Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 18 Sep. 2023
There will be food trucks and an area for children to draw with chalk, so bring the whole family.
—Chelsea Hylton, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023
Use washable chalk markers to trace the design onto a gourd and Lino Cut tools to carve away the surface skin.
—Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, 25 Aug. 2023
Verb
Cargos have been trending for a few seasons—chalk it up to the persistent popularity of Y2K—but at the spring collections of Saint Laurent, Dries Van Noten, and The Attico, and in Phoebe Philo’s debut drop last week, the vibe was new.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 9 Nov. 2023
Phil, the quieter of the pair, chalks it up to pure coincidence.
—Aria Bendix, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2023
Coach Dave Simon chalked it up to the ancillary factors that accompany playing the first match of the season.
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2023
Lee chalked it up to a small percent of attendees behaving selfishly.
—Dino Grandoni and Kim Bellware, Anchorage Daily News, 6 Sep. 2023
If Libby Edelman seems to love horseback riding, chalk it up to her husband and business partner, Sam.
—Elle.com, ELLE, 5 Sep. 2023
The Cardiff woman had chalked it up to simple irritation from her daily contact lenses, according to a report in The Daily Mail.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, Peoplemag, 18 Sep. 2023
Like his neighbors, Hill chalks it up to the nature of business.
—Shauna Stuart | Sstuart@al.com, al, 1 Sep. 2023
The plaintiffs are challenging the city's decades-old practice of chalking tires to check whether a car has moved, claiming that the practice violates the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches.
—John Fritze, USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chalk.' 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, from Old English cealc, from Latin calc-, calx lime; akin to Greek chalix pebble
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1580, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of chalk was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing chalk
Dictionary Entries Near chalk
Cite this Entry
“Chalk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chalk. Accessed 6 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
chalk
2 of 2 verb1
: to rub, mark, write, or draw with chalk
2
a
: to outline roughly
chalk out a plan of attack
b
: to record or add up with or as if with chalk
chalk up the totals
Medical Definition
chalk
noun
: a soft white, gray, or buff limestone composed chiefly of the shells of foraminifers and sometimes used medicinally as a source of calcium carbonate
called also creta
see precipitated chalk, prepared chalk
More from Merriam-Webster on chalk
Nglish: Translation of chalk for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of chalk for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chalk
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