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Synonyms

ink

American  
[ingk] / ɪŋk /

noun

  1. a fluid or viscous substance used for writing or printing.

  2. a dark, protective fluid ejected by the cuttlefish and other cephalopods.

  3. Slang. a tattoo or tattoos.

    Oh, nice, you got new ink!

  4. Informal. publicity, especially in print media.

    Their construction plans got some ink in the local paper.

verb (used with object)

  1. to mark, stain, cover, or smear with ink.

    to ink one's clothes.

  2. Informal. to sign one's name to (an official document).

    We expect to ink the contract tomorrow.

verb (used with or without object)

  1. Slang. to mark (the skin) with tattoos.

    The team agreed that they would all get inked if they brought home the championship this year.
ink British  
/ ɪŋk /

noun

  1. a fluid or paste used for printing, writing, and drawing

  2. a dark brown fluid ejected into the water for self-concealment by an octopus or related mollusc from a gland ( ink sac ) near the anus

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to mark with ink

  2. to coat (a printing surface) with ink

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
ink Scientific  
/ ĭngk /

  1. A dark liquid ejected for protection by most cephalopods, including the octopus and squid. Ink consists of highly concentrated melanin.

Other Word Forms

  • inker noun
  • inkless adjective
  • inklike adjective
  • reink verb (used with object)
  • uninked adjective

Etymology

Origin of ink

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English inke, inc, enke, from Old French enca, enque, ancre, from Late Latin encautum, variant of encaustum “burnt in, painted in,” from Greek énkauston “purple ink (used for imperial signatures),” noun use of neuter of énkaustos “burnt in”; encaustic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Netflix has recently sought to ink deals with content creators, including popular YouTubers, in an effort to boost its own offerings.

From BBC

She tilted the notebook so that Sam could see a list of names written in green ink.

From Literature

The digital Entry Exit System will eventually replace ink stamps on passports.

From BBC

"When the ink drops on the paper, the first US icebreaker will be delivered 26 months from that," he said with a smile.

From Barron's

At least I’m in a science classroom with a ton of cleaning supplies because it takes the rest of homeroom for me to wipe up the ink.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.