stain
noun
a discoloration produced by foreign matter having penetrated into or chemically reacted with a material; a spot not easily removed.
staining
-
present participleof stain.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
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.
She said Greenpeace had painted over rocks and soil, staining them.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
It doesn’t come on a school-issued bun, nor does it come with the staining might of tomato sauce and ground beef.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
She strolls in without makeup, fresh red hair dye staining her scalp, three glittering studs on her teeth that she flashes while talking as though she’s not being recorded.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 15, 2026
During weekly phone calls, I’d catch her in the middle of staining a table, reupholstering a chair, or rewiring a chandelier she’d found at a flea market.
From Slate ● Aug. 5, 2024
Her mascara ran, staining the collar of her blouse something awful.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
