crimson

1 of 3

noun

crim·​son ˈkrim-zən How to pronounce crimson (audio)
: any of several deep purplish reds

crimson

2 of 3

adjective

: of the color crimson

crimson

3 of 3

verb

crimsoned; crimsoning; crimsons

transitive verb

: to make crimson

intransitive verb

: to become crimson
especially : blush

Examples of crimson in a Sentence

Verb he crimsoned the minute he realized the foolishness of what he'd said
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Fox's ultra-long nails were filed into a subtle, rounded-square shape and painted a classic crimson shade, Poison Nail Lacquer from Arctic Fox. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 30 Oct. 2023 There are many reasons why fall getaways in the South are a good idea: the weather is finally getting cooler, the leaves are turning glorious shades of crimson and gold, and college football is kicking into full swing. Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2023 Step outside and you’re greeted with that sweet crisp weather, leaves turning a glorious shade of crimson and gold, and, of course, mountains and mountains of pumpkin-spiced everything. Amy Schulman, Peoplemag, 19 Sep. 2023 In fall, the trail will be enveloped in an explosion of color, with leaves transitioning to shades of gold, orange, and crimson. By sunset, Sunset Magazine, 21 Sep. 2023 Garcia’s face was getting swollen, puffing with crimson around the bridge of his nose. Tyler R. Tynes, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2023 Still, my family prefers a jar of clarified crimson, a clear cranberry hue. Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2023 Fall’s most eclectic offerings offer a mystical effect with fantastical fringes, extravagant volumes and eye-catching crimson. Katelyn Gray, WSJ, 30 Sep. 2023 During fall, expect to see shades of crimson, orange, and yellow mingling across the faces of the hills. Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2023
Adjective
For a parade to welcome the president, Middleton wore a head-to-toe red ensemble that kicked off with a wide-brimmed crimson hat worn at a subtle angle atop her brunette hair. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 22 Nov. 2023 The camera pans to a view of the city from the taxidermist’s office: streaks of aircraft contrail piercing the sky, children queuing in formation on a volleyball court, the last bits of crimson daylight filtering into the valley. Hazlitt, 16 Nov. 2023 Under the glow of crimson light, Sofia Kourtesis holds a crowd of 200 fans in the palm of her hand. Isabelia Herrera, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2023 Cranberry Tart With Gingersnap Cookie Crust Aaron Hutcherson’s stunning but approachable dessert features a crimson curd and press-in gingersnap cookie crust. Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 12 Nov. 2023 What truly stood out, however, was the plain crimson knitted jumper casually draped over her shoulders, adding a dash of personality into an otherwise classic look. Alex Kessler, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2023 The musician made the announcement by sharing a photo of the album's cover art, which consists of an image of a crimson red spider against a white backdrop. Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 31 Aug. 2023 Bestsellers such as the 50-milliliter Magic Cream ($100) and Beauty Light Wand highlighters (from $42) feature Peter Pan’s Tinker Bell on the packaging, and the whimsical Beauty Wishes makeup bag ($48) in Tilbury’s signature crimson shade features the iconic pixie embellished in crystals. Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 July 2023 The bright orange belly of a Baltimore oriole, the gleaming crimson feathers of a summer tanager and the royal blue plumage of an indigo bunting are naturally eye-catching. Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 July 2023
Verb
The same gochugaru, or red-pepper powder, that stains crimson a head of napa cabbage kimchi is also used in other banchan, various dressed salads called muchims and uplifting jorims, or braises. New York Times, 13 June 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crimson.' 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, Adjective, and Verb

Middle English crimisin, from Old Spanish cremesín, from Arabic qirmizī, from qirmiz kermes

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1609, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of crimson was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near crimson

Cite this Entry

“Crimson.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crimson. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

crimson

1 of 2 noun
crim·​son ˈkrim-zən How to pronounce crimson (audio)
: a deep purplish red
crimson adjective

crimson

2 of 2 verb
: to make or become crimson

More from Merriam-Webster on crimson

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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