Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

paling

American  
[pey-ling] / ˈpeɪ lɪŋ /

noun

  1. Also called paling fence.  picket fence.

  2. a pale or picket for a fence.

  3. pales pale collectively.

  4. the act of building a fence with pales. pale.

paling British  
/ ˈpeɪlɪŋ /

noun

  1. a fence made of pales

  2. pales collectively

  3. a single pale

  4. the act of erecting pales

"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

Etymology

Origin of paling

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; pale 2, -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.

Even Marvel has recently seen lower box office results for its films — despite critical praise, “Thunderbolts*” grossed about $382 million worldwide on a budget of $180 million, paling in comparison to past films.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 10, 2025

What, you might ask, prompted this remark from the paling former personality?

From Salon • Feb. 25, 2023

But each of those fines was for just $6,949, paling in comparison to what Metcalf received for the incident with Baynes, and speaking to how the NFL views any verbal offenses directed at officials.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 22, 2022

Free agency is in its infancy in MLS, paling in the impact and intrigue that grips the NBA, NFL and MLB.

From Washington Post • Mar. 1, 2019

Everything was sort of violet and still, the sky green paling into gold beyond the gable of the house and a plume of smoke rising from the chimney without any wind.

From "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner

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.