ink

1 of 2

noun

ˈiŋk 

often attributive

1

: a colored usually liquid material for writing and printing

2

: the black protective secretion of a cephalopod

3

slang : publicity sense 2d

4

informal : one or more tattoos on a person's body

Whether or not it's your cup of meat, the proliferation of body-art mags suggests that a slew of folks have ink, and they didn't get it from reading the newspaper.

—Albert Mobilio

inkiness

ˈiŋ-kē-nəs 

noun

inky

ˈiŋ-kē 

adjective

ink

2 of 2

verb

inked; inking; inks

transitive verb

1

a

: to put ink on

ink a pen

ink a printing block

b

: to draw or write in ink

ink a design

—often used with in

carefully inked in the letters

c

: to obliterate with ink

—usually used with out

inked out many lines

2

US, informal

a

: to affix one's signature to : sign sense 2a

an athlete who has inked a new contract

b

: to engage or hire by securing the signature of (someone) on a contract : sign sense 4

… has been inked to do the part of a judge in an HBO special …

—Marge Crumbaker

3

informal : tattoo

… got himself an elaborate tattoo, his first, inked along his right shoulder …

—S. L. Price

Kaufman plans on inking a tat to memorialize his accident.

—Micah Abrams

His heavily muscled arms are inked shoulder to wrist.

—Eve Conant

Synonyms of ink

Verb

• sign

Examples of ink in a Sentence

Noun

Fill out the form using blue or black ink.

The printer is out of ink.

We're using four different inks for this poster.

Verb

They just inked a new partnership agreement.

the basketball star just inked a two-year contract with the most celebrated franchise in the NBA

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

On March 10, 1974, none other than The New York Times used precious ink to explain how a very peculiar trend was spreading across college campuses from coast to coast. —Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026

Merging the world of racing with feminine touches for fan merch, racing graphic motifs are paired with puff ink, embroidery, vintage-washed and checkerboard patterns for apparel and accessories. —Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 14 May 2026

Verb

The streamer first huddled with the league in 2024, inking an agreement to carry an annual Christmas doubleheader. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 15 May 2026

Last April, Aldo Product Services, a division of the Aldo Group, inked a deal with G-III Apparel Group to become the strategic licensing partner for the footwear brand. —Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 14 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English enke, from Anglo-French encre, enke, from Late Latin encaustum, from neuter of Latin encaustus burned in, from Greek enkaustos, verbal of enkaiein to burn in — more at encaustic

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ink

• drowning/awash in red ink
• india ink
• Indian ink
• ink-blot
• ink in
• ink-jet
• ink-jet printer
• ink pad
• invisible ink
• red ink

Rhymes for ink

• blink
• brink
• chink
• cinque
• clink
• dink
• drink
• fink
• hink
• kink
• klink
• link

Kids Definition

ink

1 of 2 noun

ˈiŋk 

1

: a usually liquid material for writing or printing

2

: the black protective secretion of a cephalopod

ink

2 of 2 verb

1

: to put ink on

2

: to write or draw in ink

inker noun