stint

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈstint 

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

: restraint, limitation

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)

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• tenure
• term
• tour

Verb

• skimp (on)
• scant
• spare
• portion (out)
• conserve

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

Her return to her husband and daughter from a stint on the international space station was marred when space debris crashed into Sam’s capsule before landing, breaking her helmet. —Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 29 Oct. 2025

Meanwhile, Sánchez returns for the eighth time as host of the Latin Grammys, including her most recent stint in 2023. —Griselda Flores, Billboard, 29 Oct. 2025

Verb

Her stage stint in Play It Again, Sam came in 1969, followed by a movie role in Lovers and Other Strangers (1970). —Ellen Burney, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2025

McArthur launched on the same spacecraft just under a year later for her crew rotation stint aboard the ISS. —Josh Dinner, Space.com, 3 Sep. 2025

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

Rhymes for stint

• clint
• dint
• glint
• hint
• lint
• mint
• print
• quint
• quinte
• splint
• sprint
• squint

Kids Definition

stint

1 of 2 verb

ˈstint 

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