powdered; powdering
ˈpau̇-d(ə-)riŋ 
1
: to sprinkle or cover with or as if with powder
2
: to reduce or convert to powder
3
: to hit very hard
often attributive
1
: matter in a finely divided state : particulate matter
2
a
: a preparation in the form of fine particles especially for medicinal or cosmetic use
b
: fine dry light snow
3
: any of various solid explosives used chiefly in gunnery and blasting
see also take a powder
Examples of powder in a Sentence
Verb
She powdered her face and put on lipstick.
you have to powder the antibiotic tablet and mix it with food
Noun
The powder is made from the roots of the plant.
Mix together the different powders.
She crushed the peppercorns into a fine powder.
We're running low on baby powder and diapers.
We woke this morning to several inches of fresh powder on the ground.
Recent Examples on the Web
Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
Standing in front of black and white curtains, Abuja Area Mama powders her face.
—Damisola Sulaiman, The Dial, 20 Feb. 2025
Sarah Kocianski, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
As for the shape, the tapered tip and wide base make easy work of buffing, stippling, and blending creams or powders along every curve and contour of your face.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for powder
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Verb
Makeup patted him down—he’d worked up a coat of sweat during the setup—and powdered him up; the costumer threw his shirt on him.
—Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
Standing in front of black and white curtains, Abuja Area Mama powders her face.
—Damisola Sulaiman, The Dial, 20 Feb. 2025
Noun
This trend for fintechs to stay private for longer, gives VCs an opportunity to make lower risk bets when deploying their dry powder.
—Sarah Kocianski, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
As for the shape, the tapered tip and wide base make easy work of buffing, stippling, and blending creams or powders along every curve and contour of your face.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for powder
Cite this Entry
“Powder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/powder. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
powder
1 of 2 noun
pow·der
ˈpau̇d-ər
1
a
: dry material made up of fine particles
b
: something (as a food, medicine, or cosmetic) made in or changed to the form of a powder
2
: a solid explosive used in shooting or blasting
powder
2 of 2 verb1
: to sprinkle or cover with or as if with powder
2
: to crush to or become powder
powderer
noun
-ər-ər
Medical Definition
powder
noun
pow·der
ˈpau̇d-ər
: a product in the form of discrete usually fine particles
specifically
: a medicine or medicated preparation in the form of a powder
antiseptic powder
digestive powder
Geographical Definition
Powder
geographical name
Pow·der
ˈpau̇-dər
1
river 150 miles (241 kilometers) long in eastern Oregon flowing into the Snake River
2
river 375 miles (604 kilometers) long in northern Wyoming and southeastern Montana flowing north into the Yellowstone River
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