paint
Americannoun
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paints
plural
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a substance composed of solid coloring matter suspended in a liquid medium and applied as a protective or decorative coating to various surfaces, or to canvas or other materials in producing a work of art.
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an application of this.
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the dried surface pigment.
Don't scuff the paint.
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the solid coloring matter alone; pigment.
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facial cosmetics, especially lipstick, rouge, etc., designed to heighten natural color.
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Chiefly Western U.S. a pied, calico, or spotted horse or pony; pinto.
verb (used with object)
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paints,
present (3rd person singular)
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painted,
past participle, past
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painting
present participle
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to coat, cover, or decorate (something) with paint.
to paint a fence.
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to produce (a picture, design, etc.) in paint.
to paint a portrait.
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to represent in paint, as in oils, tempera, or watercolor.
to paint an actress as the Muse of tragedy.
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to depict as if by painting; describe vividly in words.
The ads painted the resort as a winter wonderland.
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to color by or as if by painting.
Sunset painted the clouds pink.
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to apply a substance to, as a liquid medicine or a cosmetic.
to paint a cut with iodine.
verb (used without object)
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paints,
present (3rd person singular)
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painted,
past participle, past
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painting
present participle
-
to coat or cover anything with paint.
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to engage in painting as an art.
She has begun to paint in her spare time.
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to put on or use facial cosmetics.
idioms
noun
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a substance used for decorating or protecting a surface, esp a mixture consisting of a solid pigment suspended in a liquid, that when applied to a surface dries to form a hard coating
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a dry film of paint on a surface
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the solid pigment of a paint before it is suspended in liquid
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informal face make-up, such as rouge
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short for greasepaint
verb
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to make (a picture) of (a figure, landscape, etc) with paint applied to a surface such as canvas
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to coat (a surface) with paint, as in decorating
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(tr) to apply (liquid) onto (a surface)
her mother painted the cut with antiseptic
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(tr) to apply make-up onto (the face, lips, etc)
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(tr) to describe vividly in words
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informal to celebrate uninhibitedly; go on a spree
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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paintsimple
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paintssimple
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have paintedperfect
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has paintedperfect
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am paintingprogressive
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are paintingprogressive
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is paintingprogressive
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have been paintingperfect progressive
-
has been paintingperfect progressive
Past
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paintedsimple
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had paintedperfect
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was paintingprogressive
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were paintingprogressive
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had been paintingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of paint
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English peinten (verb), from Old French peint “painted,” past participle of peindre “to paint,” from Latin pingere; see picture
Explanation
Paint is a liquid, colored substance you can use to decorate or protect a surface. If you want your bedroom walls to be bright purple, you need to buy some purple paint. Artists use paint to create landscapes, portraits, and other styles of paintings, and house painters use paint to coat and protect the wood siding on houses. When you paint, you make a painting, or cover something with paint: "First I'm going to paint your portrait, and after you paint that wall in your kitchen, we can hang it there." When someone "paints the town red," they don't literally paint anything — they just go on a celebratory spree.
Vocabulary lists containing paint
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:
The cameras compile license plate numbers and other identifying information, including make, model, paint color, dents and bumper stickers.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026
One plant makes acetic acid, which is used in vinegar, paint and glue.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
During middle school, she had her father paint the same lines on a pair of dance leotards.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
But the available data paint a worrisome picture of thwarted learning.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
There was nothing there but paint and posters of famous people telling kids to read.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
Some argue that the Census Bureau data paints an overly dire portrait of elder poverty.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 1, 2026
Citi expects oil prices and the path of core PCE to drive the rates market for the remainder of this year, neither of which paints a good picture for yields in the short-run.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026
"A ceasefire that paints such a grim picture can only be failing children."
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
Nine-year-old Sebastian paints a portrait of his family home, unable to comprehend that it no longer exists after the powerful quake that shattered western Colombia this week.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
“First,” Olive begins, “Esme paints the house bright red. For goodness’ sake, it looks like a fire truck.
From "Shouting at the Rain" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
It is a category B-listed structure and was originally painted white.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
“It painted a very clear picture that the current system is not working, and it puts up a lot of barriers for English learners to be reclassified,” said Simeón.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2026
And as he surveyed the scene, he painted the picture of a day when the Trojans were back on top and the Coliseum was hallowed ground once again.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026
Today, the Art Gallery of Ontario believes it knows who its mystery girl is and who painted her—the art-historical equivalent of finding a needle in myriad haystacks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026
It was built right against the shore, the houses low wooden cabins painted in faded colors.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
From his perch in the Coliseum press box, Arbogast is painting the scene of the play when Moore was injured.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026
From a 17th century painting by Lee Won-chan, it’s from his personal collection of more than 400 artworks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026
The BBC's Southern and Eastern Europe correspondent, Sarah Rainsford, had a close-up look at the painting in Rome.
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026
In this masterpiece of Japanese painting, Shōhaku visualizes his version of an old Chinese legend.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
Danso has Ama sit in a long, ornate chair at the foot of the table—right across from the creepy painting.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
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.
