anoint

verb

ə-ˈnȯint 

anointed; anointing; anoints

transitive verb

1

: to smear or rub with oil or an oily substance

2

a

: to apply oil to as part of a religious ceremony

The priest anointed the sick.

b

: to choose by or as if by divine election

anoint him as his successor

also : to designate as if by a ritual anointment

Critics have anointed her as an important new literary figure.

anointer noun

anointment

ə-ˈnȯint-mənt 

noun

Synonyms

• bedaub
• besmear
• daub
• smear

Examples of anoint in a Sentence

The magazine anointed her the most popular actress of the year.

anoint the wound with antiseptic to prevent infection

Recent Examples on the Web

Everyone in the movie is jockeying to be cool, to be more inside than thou, to be anointed by Oliver, and therefore to share in the privileged aura of his star mystique. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 29 Jan. 2025

Today, the Midwest town’s Dutch heritage is on full display from a working grain mill (anointed the Vermeer Windmill) to an annual three-day tulip festival with some 300,000 flowers in early May. —Tanvi Chheda, AFAR Media, 17 Jan. 2025

Holger Rune, once anointed alongside Sinner and Alcaraz, is in a similar position. —Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024

From a book focused on hotels around the world to another that spotlights Tokyo style, there are plenty of ways to anoint the coffee tables of all the people on your holiday gift list. —Jessica Cherner, Architectural Digest, 17 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French enoint, past participle of enoindre, from Latin inunguere, from in- + unguere to smear — more at ointment

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

anoint

verb

ə-ˈnȯint 

1

: to rub over with oil or an oily substance

2

: to put oil on as part of a religious ceremony

anointer noun

anointment

-mənt 

noun