coloring

American  

[kuhl-er-ing] / ˈkʌl ər ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or method of applying color.

2. appearance as to color.

   healthy coloring.

3. a substance used to color something.

   food coloring made from vegetable dyes.

4. aspect or tone.

   The ethical coloring of the story balanced the rawness of its language.

5. specious appearance; show.

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Usage

Spelling tips for coloring The word coloring is hard to spell for two reasons. First, it can be tempting to use a double l or double r. Second, in British English, the word is spelled with a u (colouring), unlike in American English. How to spell coloring: When it comes to color, keep it simple. Too much color, and too many letters, is distracting. You don't need any extra letters, like a double l, double r, or u. Then, you add the suffix -ing to the base word color to form coloring.

Other Word Forms

• noncoloring adjective

Etymology

Origin of coloring

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; color, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Sun and star motifs rendered in gold enhance the gem’s night sky coloring, while the classic flower designs celebrate the 130th anniversary of the Louis Vuitton Monogram.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

He launched a similar inquiry into Kellogg’s, suggesting it had deceptively marketed its cereals, as if it were some scandalous secret that Froot Loops contain food coloring.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

That said, the weakness in software stocks appears to be coloring Wall Street analysts’ forecasts.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 4, 2026

In the case of food coloring, Faber said those agreements were made possible because the Republican-leaning West Virginia in 2025 enacted a broad ban on synthetic dyes, setting a new standard.

From Barron's • Jan. 15, 2026

Cutting and coloring the thin cardboard from cereal boxes to make Mariposa passports for her friends and family.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

Related Words

• complexion
• shading