preen

¹ American  

[preen] / prin /

verb (used with object)

preens, present (3rd person singular) preened, past participle, past preening present participle

1. (of animals, especially birds) to trim or dress (feathers, fur, etc.) with the beak or tongue.

   The peacock preened itself on the lawn.

2. to dress (oneself ) carefully or smartly; primp.

   The king preened himself in his elaborate ceremonial robes.

3. to pride (oneself ) on an achievement, personal quality, etc..

   He preened himself on having graduated with honors.

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verb (used without object)

preens, present (3rd person singular) preened, past participle, past preening present participle

1. to make oneself appear striking or smart in dress or appearance.

   No amount of careful preening will compensate for poor posture.

2. to be exultant or proud.

preen ² American  

[preen] / prin /

noun

Chiefly British Dialect.

1. a pin or brooch.

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preen ¹ British  

/ priːn /

verb

1. (of birds) to maintain (feathers) in a healthy condition by arrangement, cleaning, and other contact with the bill

2. to dress or array (oneself) carefully; primp

3. (usually foll by on) to pride or congratulate (oneself)

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preen ² British  

/ priːn /

noun

1. a pin, esp a decorative one

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preener
  noun
• unpreened
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has preened
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have preened
  perfect
• have been preening
  perfect progressive
• is preening
  progressive 3rd person singular
• preening
  participle
• am preening
  progressive 1st person singular
• are preening
  progressive
• has been preening
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• preens
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had preened
  perfect
• preened
  simple
• were preening
  progressive plural
• was preening
  progressive singular
• had been preening
  perfect progressive
• preened
  participle

Future

• will preen
  simple
• will have preened
  perfect
• will have been preening
  perfect progressive
• will be preening
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of preen¹

1480–90; late Middle English prene, variant of Middle English prunen, proynen ( see prune ³), perhaps by association with prenen, to stab, pierce (v. use, now dial., of prene preen ² ), from the pricking action of a bird's beak in preening

Origin of preen²

before 1000; Middle English prene, Old English prēon a pin; cognate with Old Norse prjōnn pin; akin to Dutch priem, German Pfreim awl

Explanation

When a bird or a cat preens, it smooths its feathers or cleans its fur. When you preen, you primp and pay careful attention to how you're dressed and groomed, as if you're inviting the whole world to watch you. You can also preen just by puffing yourself up and congratulating yourself for something. You've just landed your triple flip on the ski jump, and, as you swoosh to a stop at the foot of the hill and take off your skis, you preen as you make your way through the adoring crowd.

Example Sentences

These days, pastel and fluorescent birds groom, preen and bicker in enclosures behind the home.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

Maybe it’s happiest tucked into a cast-iron skillet, going golden and jammy while the showier types preen in their baskets.

From Salon • Aug. 12, 2025

It might be a bank holiday in the UK, but for the designers, publicists and PAs, it'll be an extraordinarily busy day as they preen and prepare their stars to walk the grand staircase.

From BBC • May 4, 2025

“When you have that double concentration, it really focuses you. It forces you to not lay back, becomes quite athletic. You don’t show, point, preen or strut, you do. That’s always the sweet spot.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 31, 2024

When dinner was done, the fire would blaze on; Frightful would sit on the foot post of the bed and preen and wipe her beak and shake.

From "My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George