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Showing results for "coloring"
  • present participle of color.
Search instead for colorin.
Synonyms

coloring

American  
[kuhl-er-ing] / ˈkʌl ər ɪŋ /

noun

  • colorings
    plural
  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.


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

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns


Etymology

Origin of coloring

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


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.

See Examples For:

Cooler white dwarfs with atmospheres containing both hydrogen and helium can develop cyan or pale blue coloring.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2026

“Even down to the coloring, the branding — like orange and blue, going into that sunset-type vibe,” Ohwobete said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026

“Over the last few days, we have experienced an unforeseen and highly unusual decline in the coloring of our putting surfaces,” the email sent Thursday morning said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

Jobs, goods and services have all but disappeared, with uncertainty coloring the future.

From Barron's ● Jul. 11, 2026

And I in white linen with a crocheted pink border, which is right for my coloring.

From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck

If the Renaissance had been known as the Resurrection, might we be more aware of the period’s metaphysical colorings?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2025

The agency is also looking to “revoke authorization of synthetic food colorings, including those not in production, within the coming weeks,” the outlet specified.

From Salon ● Apr. 24, 2025

Examples that can be found around us include various amino acids, including monosodium glutamate, food proteins, enzymes, flavoring compounds, food colorings, and bioactive substances.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 12, 2024

“He highlighted intriguing details, brought out myriad colorings, kept the pacing sure and never covered the singers,” Tommasini wrote.

From New York Times ● Feb. 6, 2024

The panoramic view of the valleys present the colorings and fine markings of maps on the pages of a book, but much more beautiful, and in these parts more perfect.

From Rambles with John Burroughs by Robert John de Loach

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