crimson

1 of 3

noun

crim·​son ˈkrim-zən 

: 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

Synonyms of crimson

Verb

• blush
• glow
• flush

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

All Mendoza needed to do was take a knee twice to set off the confetti cannons, setting off a storm of Indiana crimson and cream in Hard Rock Stadium. —Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2026

Some, however, opted for crimson. —Jesse Kirsch, NBC news, 19 Jan. 2026

Adjective

Meaty, crimson oxheart tomatoes, orange pumpkins, cucumbers, wheat. —Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026

Frigate birds soar in the hot sky and sunsets paint cloud edges in dramatic crimson strokes. —Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026

Verb

Kalen DeBoer went from hot seat to crimson ottoman at the end of September, when No. 17 Alabama pushed past No. 5 Georgia at Sanford Stadium. —Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 3 Dec. 2025

Riding the rails gives you time to slow down and look at the canopy’s changing hues, from chartreuse to crimson. —Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025

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

Phrases Containing crimson

• crimson clover

Kids Definition

crimson

1 of 2 noun

crim·​son ˈkrim-zən 

: a deep purplish red

crimson adjective

crimson

2 of 2 verb

: to make or become crimson