prick

1 of 2

noun

ˈprik 

1

: a mark or shallow hole made by a pointed instrument

2

a

: a pointed instrument or weapon

b

: a sharp projecting organ or part

3

: an instance of pricking or the sensation of being pricked: such as

a

: a nagging or sharp feeling of remorse, regret, or sorrow

b

: a slight sharply localized discomfort

the prick of a needle

4

vulgar : penis

5

slang, vulgar : a spiteful or contemptible man often having some authority

prick

2 of 2

verb

pricked; pricking; pricks

transitive verb

1

: to pierce slightly with a sharp point

2

: to affect with anguish, grief, or remorse

… doubt began to prick him.

—Philip Hale

3

: to ride, guide, or urge on with or as if with spurs : goad

4

: to mark, distinguish, or note by means of a small mark

5

: to trace or outline with punctures

6

: to remove (a young seedling) from the seedbed to another suitable for further growth

—usually used with out

7

: to cause to be or stand erect

a dog pricking its ears

intransitive verb

1

a

: to prick something or cause a pricking sensation

b

: to feel discomfort as if from being pricked

2

a

: to urge a horse with the spur

b

: to ride fast

3

: thrust

4

: to become directed upward : point

see also prick up one's ears

Synonyms of prick

Noun

• puncture

Examples of prick in a Sentence

Noun

She felt a prick as the thorn jabbed her foot.

He felt the prick of the needle.

She felt a prick of jealousy.

Verb

The nurse pricked my finger and squeezed out a drop of blood.

The sharp shells pricked the bottoms of our feet.

She was pricked by doubt.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The inventor, Bud Wilcox, wanted to reduce the number of painful finger pricks his grandson faced each day. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 17 Jan. 2026

Nearly 40 minutes passed before help for a size (that technology has already pricked my appetite for) arrived. —Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026

With that in mind, my ears pricked up when Brooker cheerily sketched out an AI vision to boost cinema ticket sales during an on-stage interview in 2025. —Jake Kanter, Deadline, 31 Dec. 2025

Beyond the myriad complications that come with diabetes, patients have to additionally put up with regular blood sugar testing – which involves either multiple pin pricks a day to draw blood or wearing a continuous glucose monitor patch that needs to be replaced every couple of weeks. —Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 4 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English prikke, from Old English prica; akin to Middle Dutch pric prick

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for prick

• bick
• brick
• chick
• click
• fick
• flick
• hick
• kick
• knick
• lick
• mic
• nick

Kids Definition

prick

1 of 2 noun

ˈprik 

1

: a mark or small wound made by a pointed instrument

2

: something sharp or pointed

3

: an instance of pricking

4

: the sensation of being pricked

prick

2 of 2 verb

1

: to pierce slightly with a sharp point

2

: to have or cause a feeling of or as if of being pricked

3

: to point forward or upward

the dog's ears pricked up at the sound