How to Use pencil in a Sentence

pencil

1 of 2 noun
Definition of pencilnext
Synonyms for pencilnext
  • Use a pencil instead of a pen so you can erase your mistakes.
  • First, mark the center of the wood slice with a pencil.
    — Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Nov. 2023
  • Most vary from the size of a sesame seed to that of a pencil eraser.
    — Byelizabeth Pennisi, science.org, 1 May 2023
  • The goal is to keep the pencil or pen moving the entire time.
    — Alesandra Dubin, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024
  • To make the place card, mark the place mat's lines using a ruler and a pencil.
    — Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2023
  • Slip on the pullover and mid-length pencil skirt for brunch, dates, or even to work.
    — Poppy Morgan, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2023
  • Not to mention, the flammable wood from the pencil posed a danger in and of itself.
    — Donna Sarkar, Discover Magazine, 2 Jan. 2024
  • Stand on one side of it with the bowl of water, pencil, and paper.
    — Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 19 Mar. 2024
  • Sand and clean the wood panel, then use a pencil to mark off a grid of same-size squares.
    — Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Sep. 2023
  • Just two milligrams of fentanyl, about the size of a pencil tip, can kill.
    — Beth Warren, The Courier-Journal, 30 Mar. 2023
  • Whether paired with jeans or a pencil skirt, this blouse can be dressed up or down.
    — Mia Huelsbeck, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2023
  • Just 2 milligrams of fentanyl—a dose small enough to fit on the tip of a pencil—can be lethal.
    — WSJ, 12 Dec. 2023
  • The sweater, which Markle paired with a black pencil skirt by Lafayette 148, is already sold out.
    — Sam Reed, Glamour, 9 Nov. 2023
  • From roses to pencils, eggs to cookies, some things come by the dozen.
    — Micah A Leal, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2023
  • Using a pencil, trace one end of the box onto the white sheet of paper.
    — John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Apr. 2024
  • Use a pencil to mark the area of the door that rubs against the doorframe, then use a screwdriver to remove the door from the hinges.
    — Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 July 2023
  • Next, amid a sea of breezy pencil skirts, great coats, sheer tops, and pointy heels, came Zaya Wade.
    — Rosa Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 7 Mar. 2023
  • Here’s what the cut sequence looks like using a pencil to point out the position of the cuts.
    — Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 17 July 2023
  • Now 20% Off The new school year means a fresh set of colored pencils, crayons, markers, glue sticks and more.
    — Alyssa Gautieri, Good Housekeeping, 29 June 2023
  • Look for medium-size asparagus, ones that are about the size of a pencil, and make sure to trim off the tough, woody parts at the base of the spears.
    — Christopher Kimball, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Apr. 2023
  • Draw a design on an egg with a pencil and gold leaf glue, then apply a sheet of gold leaf over the glue.
    — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 Mar. 2024
  • One friend borrowed a knife from the other to sharpen a pencil being used to keep score.
    — Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2023
  • Their sleek black Jil Sander suits and pencil skirts were constructed with care.
    — Christine Lennon, WSJ, 4 Mar. 2023
  • Sir Ernest stood by under the canvas with chronometer, pencil, and book.
    — Daniella McCahey, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2023
  • Look for greeting cards, desk supplies, pencils, art prints, gift wraps and books.
    — Jessica Swannie, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2024
  • Think Cliff Clavin with a measuring tape and a pencil behind one ear.
    — Joan Herlong, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023
  • Simply place a thin piece of paper over top of your leaf or the bark and use a colored pencil or crayon to rub over it.
    — Rebecca Norris, Country Living, 29 Aug. 2023
  • The tension is undeniable, and strong enough to snap a pencil.
    — Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 21 Nov. 2023
  • Lightly sketch a vine pattern on a pumpkin with a pencil.
    — Charlyne Mattox, Country Living, 21 June 2023
  • Despite being a pencil formula, the texture is smooth and easy to apply to the lips.
    — Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 7 Dec. 2023
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pencil

2 of 2 verb
  • He penciled some notes on a piece of paper.
  • Who knows if race dates penciled in in March will be erased by events down the road?
    — Tim Sullivan, The Courier-Journal, 16 Mar. 2020
  • Don’t be afraid to pencil in a 12-vs.-13 game in the second round of this region.
    — David Dorman Vsin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2021
  • He was penciled in as the starter at right tackle for the Trojans.
    — Ben Thomas | Bthomas@al.com, al, 13 Feb. 2020
  • Six-foot-10 Noah Clowney is penciled into the first round, too.
    — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2023
  • With a lucky bounce, a team and its fans should be able to expect to pencil in a sure thing for at least a decade.
    — Rahat Huq, Chron, 21 June 2021
  • He was penciled into the starting lineup in the outfield for the first time.
    — San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2019
  • Cain said the Auburn staff has penciled him in as a speedy slot receiver.
    — Ben Thomas | Bthomas@al.com, al, 30 June 2023
  • Projects that once penciled out no longer came close to doing so.
    — Jon Chesto, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Mar. 2023
  • The President told me to pencil you in to half past Go F— Yourself.
    — Dan Snierson, EW.com, 11 Sep. 2019
  • One of those is quarterback Ronald Robertson, who was penciled in to start on the JV team in 2017.
    — Mitch Stephens, SFChronicle.com, 6 Dec. 2019
  • But, with Glenview Place, the project plans didn't pencil out, Gorens-Levey said.
    — Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 10 Nov. 2022
  • Hints and answers are on the back to thwart spoilers, and there is room above each line of code to pencil in your guesses.
    — Popular Science, 23 Oct. 2019
  • But he'll likely be penciled in the middle of the Tigers' lineup this season.
    — Kirkland Crawford, Detroit Free Press, 15 Jan. 2020
  • See you back here next week — if my assistant can pencil you in, that is!
    — Jodi Walker, EW.com, 2 Aug. 2021
  • And what's worse, now, the Tennessee Titans are penciled in at that sixth spot.
    — Mike Jones, USA TODAY, 23 Dec. 2019
  • So tack this on to the end of another workout, or pencil it in after a brisk walk.
    — Sarah Madaus, SELF, 14 Nov. 2020
  • While playoff seeding may be penciled in, the Stars have other things to sort out.
    — Matthew Defranks, Dallas News, 6 Mar. 2020
  • Last week, five of six mainstream projections had the Gophers penciled in for the Rose Bowl.
    — Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 19 Nov. 2019
  • But the math of 10% or 20% capacity just didn’t pencil out.
    — Sarah Feldberg, SFChronicle.com, 16 Sep. 2020
  • The plugged well at the site was originally drilled decades ago by Chevron, which didn’t find enough gas to pencil out, Nunn said.
    — J.d. Morris, San Francisco Chronicle, 25 Mar. 2021
  • Dante Pettis was penciled in as the 49ers’ top wide receiver a year ago.
    — Eric Branch, SFChronicle.com, 28 Feb. 2020
  • In the 1950s, Sanchez’s father, Sandy Sanchez, relied on the slugger’s skills and always penciled him in as the closer on the team roster.
    — Vincent T. Davis, ExpressNews.com, 2 Dec. 2019
  • All three have been penciled into the opening night lineup Oct. 11 at the Garden against the Blackhawks.
    — Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2023
  • If the Dolphins keep all three of their first-round picks, as is, let’s pencil them in with a third prospect on offense and say it’s a running back.
    — Arizona Republic, 22 Apr. 2020
  • After four practices he is penciled in as the starting left guard.
    — Stephen Means, cleveland.com, 6 Aug. 2019
  • None of the Fed leaders penciled in a rate cut next year in their December forecasts.
    — Washington Post, 15 Dec. 2019
  • Go ahead and pencil three of those four teams into the College Football Playoff.
    — Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al, 20 Aug. 2019
  • The left-handed hitter was penciled in for a roster spot this spring before his surgery.
    — Matt Kawahara, SFChronicle.com, 2 July 2019
  • The price tag was something in the neighborhood of $50-75 million, which didn’t pencil out when mostly night games are played.
    — San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2022

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pencil.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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