Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
✏️ A writing tool 💄 A makeup stick 🎨 A drawing medium ✏️ To draw or write 🔆 A set of lines
to pencil

to pencil

13 1.0
To write or draw with a thin wooden tool that has a graphite tip
  • verb
  • /ˈpɛnsl/
translation icon : escribir a lápiz
  • The artist will pencil a rough sketch before adding color.
  • pencil in a date
  • pencil the names
  • pencil in a few

Examples

Synonyms

to draw
vsto pencil
939 1.0

Make a picture with a pen or pencil

uses a specific small graphite or wooden writing tool for writing or making images
to trace
vsto pencil
39 2.8

To draw lines along the outside of a shape

uses a specific small graphite or wooden writing tool to write or copy outlines
to scribe
vsto pencil
3 7.4

To mark a surface with a sharp point or write something carefully by hand

uses a specific small graphite or wooden writing tool for general writing and marking

Phrasal Verbs

to pencil in
  • Informal
9 3.8

To make a temporary plan that may change later

to blue-pencil
1 8.0

Remove parts of a text to hide sensitive information

to pencil whip
  • Slang
9.9

To quickly fill in forms without checking details, often by writing false information

Compounds

pencil pusher
  • Offensive
5 6.0

An office worker who mainly does boring routine paperwork

pencil sharpener
4 1.0

A small tool that makes the tip of a pencil sharp

eyebrow pencil
3 2.1

A pencil used to darken and shape the eyebrows

pencil case
2 1.0

A small box or bag for keeping pencils, pens, and erasers

lead pencil
1 1.3

A pencil that uses graphite for writing or drawing

pencil dick
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A man with a small or thin penis used as an insult

pencil box
  • US
1 1.0

A small box for holding pencils, erasers, and a ruler

pencil eraser
1 1.0

A small rubber piece on the end of a pencil that removes marks

pencil lead
1 2.4

A thin dark core inside a pencil that makes marks on paper

sable's hair pencil
  • Specialized
9.9

A small paint brush with very soft hairs for painting fine details

pencil cedar tree
  • US
6.5

A small evergreen tree that provides wood for making pencils

pencil cedar
  • Specialized
6.8

An evergreen tree, like the eastern red cedar, whose wood is used to make pencils

pencil-neck
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who is thin and seen as weak or nerdy

pencil cedar
  • Specialized
6.3

Wood from an evergreen cedar tree used to make pencils

pencil-necked nerd
  • Offensive
9.9

A shy person who looks thin and likes books

slate pencil
  • Archaic
9.8

A thin stick of soft stone that people use to write on a slate in old classrooms

How Thick

to brush
242 1.0
marker
57 1.1
outliner
4.8
pen
508 1.0
to pencil
13 1.0
fineliner
4.8

Surface Forms

pencil infinitive
penciled past
penciled past participle
penciling present participle
pencils third person singular

Etymology

Pencil comes from the Latin penicillus, 'little tail', first for a small brush and then for the writing tool, so to pencil something is to mark or draw it lightly with a pencil.