noun
pencil
PEHN-sihl
noun
1
A writing tool with a thin core of graphite encased in wood or plastic.
"She sharpened her pencil before the exam started."
verb
1
To write or mark something using a pencil, often tentatively.
"Let's pencil in a meeting for next Tuesday."
How to Use Pencil
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe graphite writing tool, or the act of jotting something down loosely (as in "pencil in a date").
Common mistake
Despite the similar spelling, "pencil" is not related to "pen" — they come from completely different Latin roots.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
pencil in
sharpen a pencil
Word Forms
penciled past tense, pencilled past tense, pencils singular
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She sharpened her _____ before the exam started.
Etymology
From Latin penicillum ("little brush"), originally referring to small artists' brushes rather than the graphite tool we use today.