stint

1 of 3

noun (1)

1
a
: a period of time spent at a particular activity
served a brief stint as a waiter
b
: a definite quantity of work assigned
2

stint

2 of 3

verb

stinted; stinting; stints

intransitive verb

1
: to be sparing or frugal
not stinting with their praise
2
archaic : stop, desist

transitive verb

1
a
: to restrict with respect to a share or allowance
stinted herself of luxuries
b
archaic : to limit within certain boundaries
2
archaic : to put an end to : stop
stinter noun

stint

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural stints also stint
: any of several small sandpipers (genus Calidris)
Choose the Right Synonym for stint

task, duty, job, chore, stint, assignment mean a piece of work to be done.

task implies work imposed by a person in authority or an employer or by circumstance.

charged with a variety of tasks

duty implies an obligation to perform or responsibility for performance.

the duties of a lifeguard

job applies to a piece of work voluntarily performed; it may sometimes suggest difficulty or importance.

the job of turning the company around

chore implies a minor routine activity necessary for maintaining a household or farm.

every child was assigned chores

stint implies a carefully allotted or measured quantity of assigned work or service.

a 2-month stint as a reporter

assignment implies a definite limited task assigned by one in authority.

a reporter's assignment

Examples of stint in a Sentence

Noun (1) signed up for a three-year stint in the army his parents have always supported him without stint, no matter what interests he has chosen to pursue Verb the entrées would be worth these prices if the restaurant didn't stint on the side dishes so much
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
But these were all stints right after law school or during law school. Jane Thier, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2024 In memoriam: Nancy Laughlin — whose more than four decades in newspapers included 24 years at the Free Press, including a stint as managing editor — died Friday at a hospital in Jackson. Amy Huschka, Detroit Free Press, 19 Oct. 2024
Verb
Jackson Holliday began his second Orioles stint with a home run in the fifth inning of Wednesday’s 10-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, a 439-footer that accounted for his first in the big leagues, first grand slam and first placard on Eutaw Street all behind one swing. Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 31 July 2024 Gregory doesn’t stint from covering the misogyny affecting those women, either. Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for stint 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stint.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English styntan to blunt, dull; akin to Old Norse stuttr scant

Noun (2)

Middle English stynte

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stint was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near stint

Cite this Entry

“Stint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stint. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

stint

1 of 2 verb
1
: to be sparing or stingy
not stinting with their praise
2
: to limit in share or portion : cut short in amount
stint the children's allowance
stinter noun

stint

2 of 2 noun
1
: restriction sense 1, limitation
gave without stint
2
a
: a quantity of work assigned
b
: a period of time spent at a particular activity
served a brief stint as a waiter

Medical Definition

stint

variant of stent

More from Merriam-Webster on stint

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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