styling

1 of 2

present participle of style entry 2

styling

2 of 2

noun

styl·​ing ˈstī-liŋ 

plural stylings

1

: the way in which something is styled

clothing with classic styling

When it came time to redesign the compact Dakota, Dodge cleverly emulated the aggressive styling of its big, hot-selling Ram pickup.

—Consumer Reports

… Michael Jackson's sinuously breathy, often dreamy vocal stylings are prominent on only two or three of the eight selections.

—Robert Palmer

2

: hairstyling

did all of the styling and makeup for the movie

—often used before another noun

styling gels

styling tools

Examples of styling in a Sentence

Noun

a car with sleek new styling

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The film reviewing account has lent itself to Charli’s overt styling of herself as an arbiter of taste and an unabashed fan of pop culture. — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 24 July 2026

Sheer styling and saturated color were the main design cues of the look, with deep purple tights paired with a maroon bodysuit featuring sheer long sleeves. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 23 July 2026

Indeed, there is more than a hint of The Virgin Suicides to this trend, but modern styling is all about bringing the ethereal look back down to earth. — Joy Montgomery, Vogue, 23 July 2026

The actress relies on simple styling formulas—think wedges, pendant necklaces, aviator sunglasses, and neutral accessories—to make minimalist outfits feel elevated and endlessly wearable. — Samantha Sutton, InStyle, 22 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1899, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for styling

• filing
• piling
• smiling
• tiling
• beguiling
• compiling
• profiling
• refiling
• reviling
• stockpiling
• unsmiling
• reconciling