Showing results for "preening"

• present participle of preen.

preening

American  

[pree-ning] / ˈpri nɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of trimming or dressing the feathers, fur, etc., with the beak or tongue.

   Examples of animals engaging in the same behavior at the same time include the gobbling of turkeys and the preening of birds.

2. the act of dressing oneself carefully or smartly, or making small adjustments to one’s clothing to appear trim and smart; primping.

   I remember my grandma using that perfume—the scent, and the preening in front of the mirror that went with it.

3. the act of priding oneself on an achievement, personal quality, etc., especially in an obnoxious way.

   All the posing and preening by these politicians is not going to help if the program ends up making food less affordable.

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adjective

1. (of birds or animals) trimming or dressing the feathers, fur, etc., with the beak or tongue.

   We got fabulous views of a preening pair of trumpeter swans on a large rock in the river.

2. dressing oneself carefully or smartly; primping.

   He is a preening ladies' man and social climber.

3. priding oneself on an achievement, personal quality, etc., especially in an obnoxious way.

   Once again you show yourself to be nothing but a preening pseudointellectual.

Etymology

Origin of preening

First recorded in 1590–1600; preen ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun senses; preen ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

preening

As in most of the director’s movies, the characters behave like preening betta fish.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

The ducks are sitting or preening at the water, or about to take flight.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026

This is not revelation: The defense secretary is well known for preening for the cameras with a level of self-regard that would embarrass most supermodels.

From Salon ● Mar. 13, 2026

Many were motionless, while others perched on rocks preening their feathers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2025

But when I reach that house, a tidy little bungalow with a cat preening in the window, nobody answers the door.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse