1
: a unit of capacity equal to ½ quart see Weights and Measures Table
2
: a pint pot or vessel

Examples of pint in a Sentence

The ice cream comes in pints. I'd like another pint, please. We'll all go for a pint after work.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Five of the world's space agencies joined forces for the five-year mission that will attempt to land a robotic prospector and a rover on Phobos, the larger and closer of Mars' two pint-sized moons. — Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026 Five of the world’s space agencies joined forces for the five-year mission that will attempt to land a robotic prospector plus a rover on Phobos, the larger and closer of Mars’ two pint-sized moons. — ABC News, 19 Oct. 2026 Did everyone nip round the pub for a pint after, or just leg it to their gaffs? — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026 And captured the juiciness of ripe strawberries, snapping the fruit into sweet focus in a pint of strawberry and passion fruit ice cream. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pint

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pinte, from Middle French, probably from Vulgar Latin *pincta, feminine of pinctus, past participle of Latin pingere to paint; from the use of a painted mark on a container to show its capacity — more at paint

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pint was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pint. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

1
: a unit of capacity equal to ½ quart see measure
2
: a pint container

Medical Definition

: any of various measures of liquid capacity equal to one-half quart: as
a
: a United States measure equal to 16 fluid ounces, 473.176 milliliters, or 28.875 cubic inches
b
: a British measure equal to 20 fluid ounces, 568.26 milliliters, or 34.678 cubic inches

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