paint

1 of 2

verb

ˈpānt 

painted; painting; paints

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to apply color, pigment, or paint to

(2)

: to color with a cosmetic

b(1)

: to apply with a movement resembling that used in painting

(2)

: to treat with a liquid by brushing or swabbing

paint the wound with iodine

2

a(1)

: to produce in lines and colors on a surface by applying pigments

(2)

: to depict by such lines and colors

b

: to decorate, adorn, or variegate by applying lines and colors

c

: to produce or evoke as if by painting

paints glowing pictures of the farm

3

: to touch up or cover over by or as if by painting

4

: to depict as having specified or implied characteristics

paints them whiter than the evidence justifies

—Oliver La Farge

intransitive verb

1

: to practice the art of painting

2

: to use cosmetics

paint

2 of 2

noun

1

: the action of painting : something produced by painting

2

: makeup

especially : a cosmetic to add color

3

a(1)

: a mixture of a pigment and a suitable liquid to form a closely adherent coating when spread on a surface in a thin coat

(2)

: the pigment used in this mixture especially when in the form of a cake

a box of paints

b

: an applied coating of paint

4

or paint horse : a horse marked with patches of white and another color : pinto

specifically : american paint horse

5

: free throw lane

6

: color manipulation on a computer screen in a manner reminiscent of painting

—usually used before another noun

a paint program

Synonyms

Verb

• delineate
• depict
• describe
• draw
• image
• limn
• picture
• portray
• render
• set out
• sketch

Noun

• cosmetics
• makeup
• maquillage
• war paint

Examples of paint in a Sentence

Verb

I need to paint the bookcase.

We're going to paint the room yellow.

The classroom wall was painted with clouds and rainbows.

He painted that portrait of his wife.

She painted the landscape on a square canvas.

I like to draw and my sister likes to paint.

The beauty of the world inspires me to paint.

He paints mostly in oils.

The study paints a bleak picture of the effects of pollution on animal life.

Noun

Apply paint to the canvas in a series of short strokes.

I need more blue paint.

The old walls are coated with several layers of paint.

a can of latex paint

The house needs a fresh coat of paint.

The store sells many different paints.

Did you chip the paint?

The car's paint is cracking.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The numbers paint a generally positive outlook that, according to these forecasters, should allow the nation to narrowly dodge a slump. —Paul Davidson, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025

When the first match finally made it onto pickleball TV … the courts for this event were, to put it lightly, uniquely painted. —Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025

Noun

Keeping the tower would have meant expensive maintenance for what was essentially a cell tower, Dobler said, adding the city would have needed to pay for consistent paint jobs at around $1 million to keep it from rusting. —Gael Langdon, Arkansas Online, 29 Apr. 2025

Each of Cunningham’s 11 field goals Sunday came in the paint. —Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French paint, peint, past participle of peindre, from Latin pingere to tattoo, embroider, paint; akin to Old English fāh variegated, Greek poikilos variegated, pikros sharp, bitter

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing paint

• American paint horse
• back/paint oneself into a corner
• face paint
• finger paint
• luminous paint
• oil paint
• paint a rosy picture
• paint/draw a picture of
• paint horse
• paint over
• paint the town (red)
• paint thinner
• spray paint
• war paint

Rhymes for paint

• faint
• feint
• maint
• plaint
• quaint
• saint
• taint
• acquaint
• complaint
• constraint
• distraint
• enceinte

Kids Definition

paint

1 of 2 verb

ˈpānt 

1

: to apply paint or a covering or coloring substance to

paint a wall

2

a

: to make a picture or design by using paints

paint a portrait

b

: to describe clearly

paint a scene in words

3

: to practice the art of painting

paint

2 of 2 noun

1

: makeup sense 2

2

: a mixture of coloring matter and a suitable liquid to form a thin coating when spread on a surface