gild
1 Americanverb (used with object)
-
gilds,
present (3rd person singular)
-
gilded,
past participle, past
-
gilt,
past participle, past
-
gilding
present participle
-
to coat with gold, gold leaf, or a gold-colored substance.
-
to give a bright, pleasing, or specious aspect to.
-
Archaic. to make red, as with blood.
idioms
noun
verb
-
to cover with or as if with gold
-
-
to adorn unnecessarily something already beautiful
-
to praise someone inordinately
-
-
to give a falsely attractive or valuable appearance to
-
archaic to smear with blood
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
gildsimple
-
gildssimple
-
have gildedperfect
-
have giltperfect
-
has gildedperfect
-
has giltperfect
-
am gildingprogressive
-
are gildingprogressive
-
is gildingprogressive
-
have been gildingperfect progressive
-
has been gildingperfect progressive
Past
-
gildedsimple
-
giltsimple
-
had gildedperfect
-
had giltperfect
-
was gildingprogressive
-
were gildingprogressive
-
had been gildingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of gild
1300–50; Middle English gilden, Old English -gyldan; akin to gold
Explanation
To gild something is to cover it with gold. You gild an object in order to decorate it — or just to show off your wealth. From forks to picture frames, gilding can make objects seem ritzy, glamorous, and more valuable. However, some things in life just don’t need a coat of gold. If someone says you are “gilding the lily,” they mean that you are trying to improve on something that is already perfect.
Vocabulary lists containing gild
Animal Farm
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Grendel
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
The norm at U.S. companies is for management to gild the lily, knowing the analysts at big Wall Street brokers will relay the spin as their own.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
“The challenge of it was to try to go to that place but not gild the lily too much,” Scott says.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 9, 2024
I'm not one to gild the lily here, but you could stir in some spinach or arugula for a nice bitter boost.
From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2023
You can gild that lily with a dollop of sour cream as well.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 13, 2022
He might gild it, but in truth it was lacking.
From "Typical American" by Gish Jen
The way O’Hara gilds this line’s delivery with a wistful sparkle feels true because we’ve seen her spin such treasure playing all kinds of would-be topliners with an amiable, delicious amount of lunacy.
From Salon ● Feb. 4, 2026
If I’ve got prosciutto on hand, it really gilds the lily, but it’s not necessary for a sublime tartine.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 7, 2020
In the center of town, the hotel gilds its Native American and Spanish aesthetic with all the luxe you require.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 1, 2018
These were Donatella Versace’s first words to me, and they were spoken with the campy, self-conscious irony that gilds most of her accelerated speech.
From New York Times ● Feb. 12, 2016
The special quality which distinguished these prophetic gilds or companies was an intense patriotism combined with enthusiastic devotion to the cause of Yahweh.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 2 "Hearing" to "Helmond" by Various
It is fenced in and gilded, with literal gold.
From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2026
The man was not instantly recognisable, but gold medals and gilded certificates piled nearby were inscribed with the name Hussam Luka.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
The gilded grub became something of a sensation at this year’s Formula One Miami Grand Prix and Miami Open tennis tournament, starring in countless social media videos and selling out at both events.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
At the rear of the hospital, grey coffins with gilded bas-reliefs emerged before the cameras of dozens of journalists.
From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026
You couldn’t make out anyone’s face, because it was so dark, but it was the biggest auditorium I had ever seen—with balconies and gilded arches and velvet walls!
From "Auggie & Me" by R. J. Palacio
Joining the selloff, the 10-year U.K. gilt hit 5.295%, the highest since 2007.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
Traders could demand a higher risk premium to buy the gilt, given U.K. inflation concerns due to high energy prices, and fiscal pressures, Mizuho’s Evelyne Gomez-Liechti says in a note.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
The U.K. 10-year gilt yield was up 0.6 basis point at 5.158%.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
After a sharp uptick on Tuesday, which took the yield on a 10-year bond - or gilt - to the highest level since 2008, it fell back slightly on Thursday.
From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026
Above us, stern nuns in crisp whites watched our intrusion from the strokes of a massive oil painting housed in a gilt frame.
From "The Miseducation of Cameron Post" by emily m. danforth
Paramount+ has “The Madison” standout Michelle Pfeiffer and Season 2 of “Landman,” both of which could bring Emmy gilding to Taylor Sheridan’s success, plus “Dexter: Resurrection.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026
He was meticulous in ordering well-made clothes, and a “chariot” with some gilding wouldn’t be too excessive, he thought.
From Slate ● Feb. 16, 2026
They were then sent for gilding and upholstery, before Mr Desnoues added designs and a wood finish.
From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2025
It's not just the tutoring and the violin lessons and right resume gilding internship.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2023
The sun crossed the cold blue sky and then moved down to the southwest, gilding the clouds and tinting the vapor around the mountain every shade of cream and scarlet, of apricot and orange.
From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman
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.
