1
: any of the five terminating members of the hand : a digit of the forelimb
especially
: one other than the thumb
2
a
: something that resembles a finger
a narrow finger of land
b
: a part of a glove into which a finger is inserted
c
: a projecting piece (such as a pawl for a ratchet) brought into contact with an object to affect its motion
3
: the breadth of a finger
5
: bird sense 10
—usually used with the
fingered; fingering
ˈfiŋ-g(ə-)riŋ 
1
: to touch or feel with the fingers
2
a
: to play (a musical instrument) with the fingers
b
: to play (notes, chords, etc.) with a specific fingering
c
: to mark the notes of (a music score) as a guide in playing
3
: to point out : identify
4
: to extend into or penetrate in the shape of a finger
1
: to touch or handle something
2
a
: to use the fingers in playing a musical instrument
b
: to have a certain fingering
—used of a musical instrument
3
: to extend in the shape or manner of a finger
Synonyms
Examples of finger in a Sentence
Noun
Don't stick your fingers in the cookie batter!
He slipped the ring onto her finger.
The baby held onto my thumb with her tiny fingers.
She ran her fingers through his hair.
He drummed his fingers on the table impatiently.
a finger of land extending into the sea
She was so mad, she gave him the finger.
Some angry driver flipped me the finger on the highway this morning.
Verb
He was fingered as a suspect.
thus far authorities haven't been able to finger the person who's been lighting fires around town
Recent Examples on the Web
Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2024
You ever been born Caucasian and become basically African American by sowing cotton seeds, one by one, for miles, with your fingers?
—Alexis Wilkinson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Look at your finger with both eyes open, then switch between looking at your finger with just your right eye and just your left eye.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2024
Tiny fingers will love exploring the vibrant, crinkly fabric and other textures, while parents and caregivers will appreciate the machine-washable fabric.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 6 Apr. 2024
This two-time Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning treat is packed with laughs, dozens of characters (played by a cast of four), an onstage plane crash, handcuffs, missing fingers and some good old-fashioned romance.
—Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 5 Apr. 2024
People can be quick to point fingers, especially in business, and no one wants to be at the center of controversy.
—Stephanie Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2024
For the creative class to point fingers at the large, breasty gentlemen adrift in tortilla-chip-laden pools of water is to gather a sour harvest of low-hanging fruit.
—Gary Shteyngart, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2024
The diagrams also show the Apple Watch being used to sense the ring’s position relative to the watch, thereby able to tell when a finger is move across the other hand’s palm.
—Andrew Williams, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Darius Tahir, CBS News, 29 Feb. 2024
Today's announcement addresses Chromebook longevity but doesn't resolve all concerns.
PIRG's April report also shared complaints on the costs and scarcity of Chromebook replacement parts, fingering OEMs' poor inventory and repair programs.
—Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 14 Sep. 2023
Everett showed me his fishing flies, displaying them like a jeweller fingering his gems.
—Maya Binyam, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
Among the suspects who fingered Sanon as the head of the plot: former Haitian government official Joseph Félix Badio, who was arrested in October and is in custody in Haiti, and James Solages, a Haitian American who was extradited from Haiti and is awaiting trial in the Miami case.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 9 Feb. 2024
Trump Has Promised to Do in a Second Term
The Warriors’ Journey Back to Coney Island
Falsely fingered for the murder of Cyrus, the night turns against the Warriors.
—Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 6 Feb. 2024
Even the hair had been spritzed and gelled and fingered through to evoke a just-showered look.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 26 Jan. 2024
All three men were arrested shortly after the killing, but police failed to book Gilbert on a murder warrant, according to Alameda County Public Defender Brendon Woods, whose office is representing Mitchell and has fingered Gilbert at the triggerman.
—Harry Harris, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2024
When there’s a match, the investigators will finger the phone number or email address of the sending party.
—Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 12 Jan. 2024
Noun
Jaws dropped in awe, fingers pointed to the sky and a chorus of screams became steady background music as day turned into night.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2024
You ever been born Caucasian and become basically African American by sowing cotton seeds, one by one, for miles, with your fingers?
—Alexis Wilkinson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Look at your finger with both eyes open, then switch between looking at your finger with just your right eye and just your left eye.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2024
Tiny fingers will love exploring the vibrant, crinkly fabric and other textures, while parents and caregivers will appreciate the machine-washable fabric.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 6 Apr. 2024
This two-time Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning treat is packed with laughs, dozens of characters (played by a cast of four), an onstage plane crash, handcuffs, missing fingers and some good old-fashioned romance.
—Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 5 Apr. 2024
People can be quick to point fingers, especially in business, and no one wants to be at the center of controversy.
—Stephanie Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2024
For the creative class to point fingers at the large, breasty gentlemen adrift in tortilla-chip-laden pools of water is to gather a sour harvest of low-hanging fruit.
—Gary Shteyngart, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2024
The diagrams also show the Apple Watch being used to sense the ring’s position relative to the watch, thereby able to tell when a finger is move across the other hand’s palm.
—Andrew Williams, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Verb
Media reports are fingering ALPHV, a notorious ransomware group also known as Blackcat, which has become the target of numerous law enforcement agencies worldwide.
—Darius Tahir, CBS News, 29 Feb. 2024
Today's announcement addresses Chromebook longevity but doesn't resolve all concerns.
PIRG's April report also shared complaints on the costs and scarcity of Chromebook replacement parts, fingering OEMs' poor inventory and repair programs.
—Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 14 Sep. 2023
Everett showed me his fishing flies, displaying them like a jeweller fingering his gems.
—Maya Binyam, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
Among the suspects who fingered Sanon as the head of the plot: former Haitian government official Joseph Félix Badio, who was arrested in October and is in custody in Haiti, and James Solages, a Haitian American who was extradited from Haiti and is awaiting trial in the Miami case.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 9 Feb. 2024
Trump Has Promised to Do in a Second Term
The Warriors’ Journey Back to Coney Island
Falsely fingered for the murder of Cyrus, the night turns against the Warriors.
—Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 6 Feb. 2024
Even the hair had been spritzed and gelled and fingered through to evoke a just-showered look.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 26 Jan. 2024
All three men were arrested shortly after the killing, but police failed to book Gilbert on a murder warrant, according to Alameda County Public Defender Brendon Woods, whose office is representing Mitchell and has fingered Gilbert at the triggerman.
—Harry Harris, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2024
When there’s a match, the investigators will finger the phone number or email address of the sending party.
—Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 12 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'finger.' 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; akin to Old High German fingar finger
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
circa 1521, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2a
Time Traveler
The first known use of finger was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing finger
Video
When Body Parts Are Also Verbs
Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes
Dictionary Entries Near finger
Cite this Entry
“Finger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/finger. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
finger
1 of 2 noun
fin·ger
ˈfiŋ-gər
1
: one of the five divisions of the end of the hand
especially
: one other than the thumb
2
a
: something that resembles or does the work of a finger
b
: a part of a glove into which a finger is inserted
3
: the width of a finger
fingered
adjective
-gərd
Medical Definition
finger
noun
fin·ger
ˈfiŋ-gər
: any of the five terminating members of the hand : a digit of the forelimb
especially
: one other than the thumb
Legal Definition
finger
transitive verb
fin·ger
fingered; fingering
: to accuse or identify as guilty
was fingered simply because he fit the stereotype of a young, black street criminal—Jack Ewing
Jack Ewing
More from Merriam-Webster on finger
Nglish: Translation of finger for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of finger for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about finger
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