1
a
: a crafty procedure or practice meant to deceive or defraud
b
: a mischievous act : prank
c
: a deceptive, dexterous, or ingenious feat
especially
: one designed to puzzle or amuse
a juggler's tricks
d
: an indiscreet or childish action
2
a(1)
: a quick or artful way of getting a result : knack
the trick is to make it look natural
(2)
: an instance of getting a desired result
one small adjustment will do the trick
b
: a technical device (as of an art or craft)
the tricks of stage technique
3
a
: a delusive appearance especially when caused by art or legerdemain : an optical illusion
a mere trick of the light
b
: a habitual peculiarity of behavior or manner
a horse with the trick of shying
c
: a characteristic and identifying feature
a trick of speech
4
: the cards played in one round of a card game often used as a scoring unit
5
a
: a sexual act performed by a prostitute
turning tricks
also
: john sense 2
c
: a trip taken as part of one's employment
d
: a turn of duty at the helm usually lasting for two hours
6
: an attractive child or woman
a cute little trick
tricked; tricking; tricks
Synonyms
Examples of trick in a Sentence
Noun
It was a trick to persuade her to give him money.
She enjoys playing tricks on her friends.
For his last trick, the magician made a rabbit disappear.
Verb
He tricked her by wearing a disguise.
you tricked me into thinking my ex wasn't coming to the party tonight
Adjective
a trick shot in pool
He has a trick knee.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Vogue, 19 Sep. 2023
Others say that Roman’s sildenafil works exactly as prescribed, with no tricks and awesome results.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 15 Sep. 2023
Tips and tricks for our readers Welcome: A Letter from Reading by 9
The other day, my 4-year old son came bounding into the house from the school and begged me to write down a new word for him: galumphing.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2023
Working with Everett, who has produced and engineered for indie bands but also SZA and Kacey Musgraves, was just the trick for dialing up the intensity.
—Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 14 Sep. 2023
PBMs are complex and shadowy enough to do the trick.
—Lauren Larson, Men's Health, 7 Sep. 2023
To emulate Logan’s interior aesthetic, invest in sculptural pieces—lamps, furniture, and decorative items will do the trick—and steer clear of bright colors.
—Abby Wilson, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2023
But using financial engineering to deny shareholders a vote in a huge, controversial merger that dilutes their stake will do the trick.
—Jon Sindreu, WSJ, 6 Sep. 2023
Moving the data to a server with more capacity did the trick.
—David Meyer, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2023
Kurt Knutsson, Fox News, 6 Sep. 2023
The comedy focuses on the manager of a post office in northwest Italy who is transferred to a sleepy town in the southern Campania region as punishment for trying to trick the agency into giving him a plum assignment in Milan.
—Joey Morona, cleveland, 28 Aug. 2023
His parents had tricked him into going home to get him out of danger’s way.
—Casey Schwartz, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2023
In other words, the tape uses elastic tension to hold your lips together which then tricks your brain into transferring to nasal breathing.
—Melanie Rud, Peoplemag, 17 Aug. 2023
All of these have tricked the computer into thinking there was a fire.
—Thomas Fuller, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Aug. 2023
Scammers are pretending to be from Geek Squad, the company's tech-support arm, and tricking people into handing over their personal information.
—USA TODAY, 23 Aug. 2023
The former football player claimed the Tuohy family members made millions of dollars off business deals after tricking him into becoming his conservators.
—Asher Notheis, Washington Examiner, 17 Aug. 2023
Oher says the couple tricked him into signing a conservatorship shortly after turning 18.
—Vulture, 16 Aug. 2023
Corey S Powell, Discover Magazine, 5 Nov. 2014
As Halloween approaches, investors seem fearful that good credit performance may be more trick than treat.
—Telis Demos, WSJ, 21 Oct. 2022
If the high cost of it all is more trick than treat for you, here are several ways to turn your already smart home into a spook-tacularly genius haunted house.
—Jennifer Jolly, USA TODAY, 28 Oct. 2021
And arguably, given the variety of cask types used by the distillery, Angel’s Envy is actually a multi-trick pony.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 11 June 2021
The ‘00s are cool again, right? (Trick question: They, like Britney, have always been cool.)
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 23 June 2017
See More
Noun
Customers were able to shop the rails and get invaluable styling tips and tricks from the editors themselves.
—Vogue, 19 Sep. 2023
Others say that Roman’s sildenafil works exactly as prescribed, with no tricks and awesome results.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 15 Sep. 2023
Tips and tricks for our readers Welcome: A Letter from Reading by 9
The other day, my 4-year old son came bounding into the house from the school and begged me to write down a new word for him: galumphing.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2023
Working with Everett, who has produced and engineered for indie bands but also SZA and Kacey Musgraves, was just the trick for dialing up the intensity.
—Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 14 Sep. 2023
PBMs are complex and shadowy enough to do the trick.
—Lauren Larson, Men's Health, 7 Sep. 2023
To emulate Logan’s interior aesthetic, invest in sculptural pieces—lamps, furniture, and decorative items will do the trick—and steer clear of bright colors.
—Abby Wilson, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2023
But using financial engineering to deny shareholders a vote in a huge, controversial merger that dilutes their stake will do the trick.
—Jon Sindreu, WSJ, 6 Sep. 2023
Moving the data to a server with more capacity did the trick.
—David Meyer, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2023
Verb
Cybercriminals are at it again with a new phishing scam that involves trying to trick you into clicking on images that look like invoices, receipts, or other documents.
—Kurt Knutsson, Fox News, 6 Sep. 2023
The comedy focuses on the manager of a post office in northwest Italy who is transferred to a sleepy town in the southern Campania region as punishment for trying to trick the agency into giving him a plum assignment in Milan.
—Joey Morona, cleveland, 28 Aug. 2023
His parents had tricked him into going home to get him out of danger’s way.
—Casey Schwartz, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2023
In other words, the tape uses elastic tension to hold your lips together which then tricks your brain into transferring to nasal breathing.
—Melanie Rud, Peoplemag, 17 Aug. 2023
All of these have tricked the computer into thinking there was a fire.
—Thomas Fuller, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Aug. 2023
Scammers are pretending to be from Geek Squad, the company's tech-support arm, and tricking people into handing over their personal information.
—USA TODAY, 23 Aug. 2023
The former football player claimed the Tuohy family members made millions of dollars off business deals after tricking him into becoming his conservators.
—Asher Notheis, Washington Examiner, 17 Aug. 2023
Oher says the couple tricked him into signing a conservatorship shortly after turning 18.
—Vulture, 16 Aug. 2023
Adjective
My idea was not to get too trick-sy with it, to keep it at a fairly simple visual level.
—Corey S Powell, Discover Magazine, 5 Nov. 2014
As Halloween approaches, investors seem fearful that good credit performance may be more trick than treat.
—Telis Demos, WSJ, 21 Oct. 2022
If the high cost of it all is more trick than treat for you, here are several ways to turn your already smart home into a spook-tacularly genius haunted house.
—Jennifer Jolly, USA TODAY, 28 Oct. 2021
And arguably, given the variety of cask types used by the distillery, Angel’s Envy is actually a multi-trick pony.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 11 June 2021
The ‘00s are cool again, right? (Trick question: They, like Britney, have always been cool.)
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 23 June 2017
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trick.' 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
Noun
Middle English trikke, from Anglo-French *trik, from trikier to deceive, cheat, from Vulgar Latin *triccare, alteration of Latin tricari to behave evasively, shuffle, from tricae complications, trifles
First Known Use
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1631, in the meaning defined above
Adjective
circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Time Traveler
The first known use of trick was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing trick
Dictionary Entries Near trick
Cite this Entry
“Trick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trick. Accessed 1 Oct. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
trick
1 of 3 noun1
a
: an action meant to deceive or cheat
b
: a mischievous act : prank
c
: an unwise or childish action
d
: a skillful or clever feat designed to puzzle or amuse
a juggler's tricks
2
: a habitual peculiarity of behavior or manner
a trick of speech
3
a
: a quick or artful way of getting a result : knack
the trick is to do it quickly
b
: an instance of getting a desired result
one small adjustment will do the trick
4
: a technical device (as of an art or craft)
tricks of the trade
5
: the cards played in one round of a card game
trick
2 of 3 verb1
: to deceive with tricks : cheat
2
: to dress or decorate especially oddly or ornately
tricked out in a gaudy uniform
trick
3 of 3 adjective1
a
: of or relating to or involving tricks or trickery
trick photography
b
: skilled in or used for tricks
a trick horse
2
a
: somewhat defective and unreliable
a trick lock
b
: inclined to give way unexpectedly
a trick knee
More from Merriam-Webster on trick
Nglish: Translation of trick for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of trick for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about trick
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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