pencil in
phrasal verb
penciled in or pencilled in; penciling in or pencilling in; pencils in
: to put (someone or something that may be changed later) on a schedule, list, etc.
Would you like me to pencil you in for Thursday morning at 11?
—sometimes used figurativelyHe was penciled in as the director's replacement.
Examples of pencil in in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
On top of it sat an ivory paper knife, pens and pencils in a jar, along with a blotter, a gooseneck lamp, and his bulky Dictaphone.
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Josh Ireland, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Caleb Durbin, who was once again penciled in at third base on Tuesday, is scheduled to start at second for the first time on Thursday, Cora said.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
Most of the team’s everyday regulars didn’t make the trip and are penciled in take the field Sunday at CoolToday Park when the Braves host the Twins.
—Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 21 Feb. 2026
Currently, the Mets have six healthy starters penciled in to start the season.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pencil in
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Josh Ireland, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Caleb Durbin, who was once again penciled in at third base on Tuesday, is scheduled to start at second for the first time on Thursday, Cora said.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
Most of the team’s everyday regulars didn’t make the trip and are penciled in take the field Sunday at CoolToday Park when the Braves host the Twins.
—Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 21 Feb. 2026
Currently, the Mets have six healthy starters penciled in to start the season.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pencil in
Cite this Entry
“Pencil in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pencil%20in. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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