painting

1 of 2

noun

paint·​ing ˈpān-tiŋ How to pronounce painting (audio)
Synonyms of paintingnext
1
: a product of painting
especially : a work produced through the art of painting
2
: the art or occupation of painting

painting

2 of 2

present participle of paint entry 1

Synonyms of painting

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Noun

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Examples of painting in a Sentence

Noun They hung the painting in the living room. The woman in that painting is my grandmother. I like painting more than sculpture. He is studying abstract painting. She wants to devote all her time to painting. The room is ready for painting.
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Noun
Dolly Parton’s image appeared on cake mix boxes, film posters, magazine covers, and paintings. — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 26 Aug. 2026 The beach is the stuff of postcards and paintings, hugged by cliffs with improbably radiant aquamarine water and a giant conical rock formation right in the middle of the bay. — Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 2026 This family-centric trackside event features free kids’ games, face painting, inflatable attractions and activities alongside a day full of exciting racing. — Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 From the earliest days of photography, artists have staged tableaux for the camera, often using painting and literature as inspiration. — Leah Ollman, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for painting

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of painting was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing painting

Rhymes for painting

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Browse Nearby Words

paintiness
painting
painting knife
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Cite this Entry

“Painting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/painting. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

painting

noun
paint·​ing
1
: a painted work of art
2
: the art or occupation of painting

More from Merriam-Webster on painting

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about painting

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