ink
Americannoun
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a fluid or viscous substance used for writing or printing.
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a dark, protective fluid ejected by the cuttlefish and other cephalopods.
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Slang. a tattoo or tattoos.
Oh, nice, you got new ink!
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Informal. publicity, especially in print media.
Their construction plans got some ink in the local paper.
verb (used with object)
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to mark, stain, cover, or smear with ink.
to ink one's clothes.
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Informal. to sign one's name to (an official document).
We expect to ink the contract tomorrow.
verb (used with or without object)
noun
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a fluid or paste used for printing, writing, and drawing
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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
verb
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to mark with ink
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to coat (a printing surface) with ink
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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inksimple
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inkssimple
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have inkedperfect
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has inkedperfect
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am inkingprogressive
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are inkingprogressive
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is inkingprogressive
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have been inkingperfect progressive
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has been inkingperfect progressive
Past
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inkedsimple
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had inkedperfect
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was inkingprogressive
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were inkingprogressive
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had been inkingperfect progressive
Future
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”; see encaustic
Explanation
Ink is a colored liquid that you use to write with on paper. When you sign on the dotted line, you usually do so with ink. You'll usually find ink inside a pen, automatically flowing through its tip, although years ago people had to dip a quill into a pot of ink to write with ink. Other ways ink is used include printing images, stamping information, and drawing pictures. Another ink is the fluid released by certain mollusks, like squids, to hide them from predators. Ink, from the Old French encre, "dark writing fluid," has the Greek root enkaiein, "to burn in."
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.
The two had written messages on their caps in silver ink: On Alfonzo’s, “EyP, RIP,” the initials of his stepmother Patricia and his younger sister Eliana.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 6, 2026
His expertise was in ink analysis, which involved a series of physical and chemical procedures to determine the make and model of ink used.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 29, 2026
A lot of ink has been spilled in recent months predicting how new Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh would face the wrath of President Donald Trump unless he could quickly deliver more interest-rate cuts.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 24, 2026
It’s a strange request, but Aaron plays along until Hank asks about the word “diablo” tattooed by Aaron’s eyebrow, a piece of ink Aaron makes explicitly clear he does not want to discuss.
From Salon • Jun. 15, 2026
Fine slanted letters were scribbled in black ink.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
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.
