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

… believes there is a campaign … to paint him as a villain …

—Craig Neff and Jill Lieber

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 of paint

Verb

• describe
• portray
• depict
• render
• set out

Noun

• makeup

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 artworks stolen from the museum—located around 12 miles from the city of Parma—included Cézanne’s watercolor and pencil creation Still Life with Cherries, the Matisse aquatint Odalisque on the Terrace, and the painting Fish by Renoir. — News Desk, Artforum, 17 Aug. 2026

Learn how to paint and personalize a ceramic planter using acrylic paints, markers and collage in this workshop. — Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026

Noun

By allowing wings like Kayla Thornton, Salaun and Kaila Charles to plant themselves on the baseline right outside of the paint, the driving lanes that Chicago enjoyed early were suddenly closed up. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2026

The matte black paint that covers the exterior of the building, once a Nike office complex, does not give off a cozy vibe, either. — Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026

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 2a(2)

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
• repaint

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