preen

noun

\ ˈprēn

Definition of preen

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 dialectal, chiefly British : pin

2 dialectal, chiefly British : brooch

preen

verb (1)

preened; preening; preens

Definition of preen (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

chiefly Scotland

: pin

preen

verb (2)

preened; preening; preens

Definition of preen (Entry 3 of 3)

transitive verb

1 of a bird : to groom with the bill especially by rearranging the barbs and barbules of the feathers and by distributing oil from the uropygial gland

2 : to dress or smooth (oneself) up : primp

3 : to pride or congratulate (oneself) on an achievement

intransitive verb

1 : to make oneself sleek

2 : to behave or speak with obvious pride or self-satisfaction

Other Words from preen Example Sentences Learn More about preen

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Examples of preen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Without our irrepressible divas, we’d be stuck with a bunch of preening clowns in megalithic ten-gallon hats who grew up in Dayton, Ohio. — Joe Queenan, WSJ, "We Can All Be Thankful America Doesn’t Have Putin," 24 Nov. 2018 Man Eating Food feels like a remnant of old YouTube, before creators learned to preen, polish, and grapple with YouTube’s impossible algorithm. — Megan Farokhmanesh, The Verge, "YouTuber who eats disgusting food is everything good about the internet," 20 Nov. 2018 Political leaders preen and hashtag and hurl insults, and when real life intrudes on the food fights? — Lara Backmender, Glamour, "The March for Our Lives Activists Who Said Never Again," 1 Nov. 2018 For nonactors, preening in front of a camera with directors calling out emotions to convey merely with facial expressions and gestures can be cringe inducing. — Katherine Rosman, New York Times, "15 Minutes of Fame Is Too Much. Try 6 Seconds.," 12 Feb. 2018 While the boys of summer out-blast, out-quip and out-cool each other in desperate attempts to create and elaborate on their fictional legends, Ginsburg is proving that real-life legends need no posturing, preening or pyrotechnics to earn their cred. — Ann Hornaday, chicagotribune.com, "Forget the capes. This hero wears a robe.," 17 May 2018 It was thought the peacock might have been preening in the shiny reflection of the vehicle. — Carol Cormaci, latimes.com, "La Cañada History: Peacock’s attack on car infuriates local homeowners," 9 July 2018 Both Jordan and David are eager to preen for the cameras. — Rebecca Farley, refinery29.com, "The Bachelorette Season 14, Episode 5 Recap: Your Greatest Power," 26 June 2018 The other two characters, brought in later, are the coldly analytical Borsuk (Jared Abrahamson) and the preening jock Allen (Blake Jenner). — David Sims, The Atlantic, "The Slick but Empty True Crime of American Animals," 1 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'preen.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for preen

Noun

Middle English prene, from Old English prēon; akin to Middle High German pfrieme awl

Verb (2)

Middle English prenen, alteration of proynen, prunen, from Anglo-French puroindre, proindre, from pur- thoroughly + uindre, oindre to anoint, rub, from Latin unguere — more at purchase, ointment