How to Use nail in a Sentence

nail

1 of 2 noun
  • I get my nails done at the beauty salon every other week.
  • Touchdown came up with the idea to put nails in his hair in 2018.
    Akili King, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2023
  • In the shaggy green wild of the southern Serengeti, a flash of ivory snags the eye like silk on a nail.
    Josh Condon, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2023
  • Using the best acrylic nail kits for a long-lasting style.
    Sam Peters, harpersbazaar.com, 20 Apr. 2023
  • From there, the person hangs their frame so the cable wire is resting on the nail and right near the neck of the fork.
    Kelsey Mulvey, House Beautiful, 29 Aug. 2023
  • Find a nail clipping in your soup, the restaurant gives you a nectarine.
    Sanibel Chai, ELLE, 25 May 2023
  • Ciara proves that mauve makes for a great go-to nail color.
    Audrey Noble, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2023
  • The matte black nails set the tone, while adding jewels to an accent nail sets it apart from the rest.
    Ariana Yaptangco, ELLE, 30 Aug. 2023
  • Her nails were a medium length and filed into a soft square shape.
    Kara Nesvig, Allure, 29 Dec. 2023
  • So red nails do work—just not in the way the red-nail theory alleges.
    Molly Barstein, Vogue, 18 Jan. 2024
  • It was later followed by Juste un Clou in 1971, a bracelet shaped like a nail that curves around the wrist.
    Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2024
  • Ridgid models can drive up to 1,200 nails on a single charge.
    Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 25 Apr. 2023
  • The non-slip surface is good for young children and is durable enough that a dog's nails won't go right through it.
    Catherine Garcia, The Week, 30 May 2023
  • On one of her nails, the white French tip was replaced with a monarch butterfly wing.
    Staff Author, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
  • Over time, nails or staples may loosen, but screws are more likely to stay in place.
    Brandi Fuller, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2023
  • But her nails do have a very summery — if not downright springy — feel.
    Marci Robin, Allure, 4 Oct. 2023
  • There are, of course, always a handful of celebs that stray from the theme, but some really do hit the nail on the head.
    Brittany Natale, Redbook, 3 May 2023
  • Right away, the team started preparing for the 21-hour trip to Paris, rushing to get their hair and nails done.
    Khari Johnson, WIRED, 24 Jan. 2024
  • While this shade can work on any nail shape, longer nails really up the vampy-ness, says Miss Pop.
    Annie Blay, Allure, 3 Nov. 2023
  • Richter grew up with a home-building father in the Sun Valley area and was picking up nails at the age of 8.
    Dusty Parnell, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024
  • With most nail styles, getting your nails done every two weeks is the standard.
    Sabrina Talbert, Women's Health, 13 July 2023
  • Our fav detail is her nails, which were painted hot pink with bow gems glued on.
    Briannah Rivera, Seventeen, 10 May 2023
  • We're supposed to write about manicures and nail trends!
    Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 12 July 2023
  • Her shiny baby pink nails complete the ultra-girly look.
    Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 20 Dec. 2023
  • The spa also includes hairdressing and nail care services, with special treatments for brides.
    José Cantillo Ferrer, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Feb. 2026
  • To nail the look, prioritize a smooth, clean nail surface and opt for a high-gloss top coat.
    Alexis Berger, InStyle, 15 Feb. 2026
  • The rest of the nail is only shiny, enhancing even more the strength of the silver that crowns the nail.
    Arancha Gamo, Glamour, 14 Feb. 2026
  • By the nail holes above and beside the worshiping altar, the household hung garlands.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Those two pieces of concrete evidence, in a game where votes are far too often decided on weird vibes, put the nail in Stephen’s coffin.
    Tom Smyth, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Without as much keratin, nails can become weaker and more brittle.
    Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Flow Space, 13 Feb. 2026

nail

2 of 2 verb
  • Nail the picture to the wall.
  • All the doors were nailed shut.
  • He got nailed by his parents while trying to sneak out of the house.
  • He got nailed for not paying his taxes.
  • The FBI has nailed the hackers.
  • Or at least nailing it with such bold definition.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Shtanhei adds that preparation is key for nailing this shiny yet simple look.
    Alexis Berger, InStyle, 15 Feb. 2026
  • The brand nails high-quality essentials that look luxe without wrecking your travel budget.
    Claire Gallam, Travel + Leisure, 11 Feb. 2026
  • These raised garden beds are made of single, foot-wide planks of wood nailed together.
    Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Feb. 2026

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

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