pencil

American  

[pen-suhl] / ˈpɛn səl /

noun

1. a slender tube of wood, metal, plastic, etc., containing a core or strip of graphite, a solid coloring material, or the like, used for writing or drawing.

2. a stick of cosmetic coloring material for use on the eyebrows, eyelids, etc.

3. anything shaped or used like a pencil, as a stick of medicated material.

   a styptic pencil.

4. a narrow set of lines, light rays, or the like, diverging from or converging to a point.

   a pencil of sunlight.

5. a slender, pointed piece of a substance used for marking.

6. style or skill in drawing or delineation.

   He favored the late products of the artist's pencil.

7. Mathematics. the collection of lines, planes, or surfaces passing through a given point or set of points and satisfying a given equation or condition.

8. Archaic. an artist's paintbrush, especially for fine work.

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verb (used with object)

penciled, penciling, pencilled, pencilling

1. to write, draw, mark, or color with, or as if with, a pencil.

2. to use a pencil on.

verb phrase

1. pencil in to schedule or list tentatively, as or as if by writing down in pencil rather than in ink.

   I'll pencil you in for ten o'clock.

pencil British  

/ ˈpɛnsəl /

noun

1. 1. a thin cylindrical instrument used for writing, drawing, etc, consisting of a rod of graphite or other marking substance, usually either encased in wood and sharpened or held in a mechanical metal device

   2. ( as modifier )

      a pencil drawing

2. something similar in shape or function

   a styptic pencil

   an eyebrow pencil

3. a narrow set of lines or rays, such as light rays, diverging from or converging to a point

4. archaic an artist's fine paintbrush

5. rare an artist's individual style or technique in drawing

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verb

1. to draw, colour, or write with a pencil

2. to mark with a pencil

3. to note, arrange, include, etc provisionally or tentatively

pencil Idioms  

1. see put lead in one's pencil.

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Other Word Forms

• penciler noun
• penciller noun
• pencillike adjective
• unpenciled adjective
• unpencilled adjective

Etymology

Origin of pencil

1350–1400; Middle English pencel < Middle French pincel ≪ Latin pēnicillus painter's brush or pencil, diminutive of pēniculus little tail. See penis, -cule ¹

Example Sentences

The central bank recently left one more cut to rates penciled in for 2026.

From MarketWatch

However, nonconductive materials like fingernails or pencil erasers do not alter the electric field, so the screen does not respond.

From Science Daily

The March dot plot showed seven officials expecting no cuts this year, seven penciling in one, and five projecting two or more.

From Barron's

The Federal Reserve is only penciling in one potential interest-rate cut in 2026, citing uncertainty in the Middle East as a reason to go slow.

From MarketWatch

Expect to see a lot of pencil skirts, artfully tucked-in white button downs and tousled blond hair this summer.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• address
• compose
• create
• draft
• note
• pen
• print
• record
• rewrite
• scrawl
• scribble
• sign
• tell