painting

noun

paint·​ing ˈpān-tiŋ 

1

: a product of painting

especially : a work produced through the art of painting

2

: the art or occupation of painting

Synonyms of painting

• canvas
• mural
• watercolor

Examples of painting in a Sentence

They hung the painting in the living room.

The woman in that painting is my grandmother.

I like painting more than sculpture.

He is studying abstract painting.

She wants to devote all her time to painting.

The room is ready for painting.

Recent Examples on the Web

On the walls of the massage table room are photos and paintings of nude women; on the shelves are bottles of lotion, Astroglide and other lubricant. —Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 20 Dec. 2025

Other missing files included photos of a room with what appeared to be a massage table and nude photos and nude paintings. —CBS News, 20 Dec. 2025

My Friends by Fredrik Backman The winner for best fiction of the year on Goodreads with more than 167,500 votes, My Friends follows Louisa, a young artist, who becomes obsessed with uncovering the story behind three tiny figures hidden in a famous painting that unexpectedly ends up in her care. —Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 20 Dec. 2025

There were also paintings and photographs of naked young men and women. —Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 20 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing painting

• action painting
• cave painting
• finger painting
• no oil painting
• oil painting
• wall painting

Rhymes for painting

• fainting
• tainting
• acquainting
• repainting

Kids Definition

painting

noun

paint·​ing

1

: a painted work of art

2

: the art or occupation of painting