stint

1 of 3

noun (1)

1
a
: a period of time spent at a particular activity
served a brief stint as a waiter
b
: a definite quantity of work assigned
2

stint

2 of 3

verb

stinted; stinting; stints

intransitive verb

1
: to be sparing or frugal
not stinting with their praise
2
archaic : stop, desist

transitive verb

1
a
: to restrict with respect to a share or allowance
stinted herself of luxuries
b
archaic : to limit within certain boundaries
2
archaic : to put an end to : stop
stinter noun

stint

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural stints also stint
: any of several small sandpipers (genus Calidris)
Choose the Right Synonym for stint

task, duty, job, chore, stint, assignment mean a piece of work to be done.

task implies work imposed by a person in authority or an employer or by circumstance.

charged with a variety of tasks

duty implies an obligation to perform or responsibility for performance.

the duties of a lifeguard

job applies to a piece of work voluntarily performed; it may sometimes suggest difficulty or importance.

the job of turning the company around

chore implies a minor routine activity necessary for maintaining a household or farm.

every child was assigned chores

stint implies a carefully allotted or measured quantity of assigned work or service.

a 2-month stint as a reporter

assignment implies a definite limited task assigned by one in authority.

a reporter's assignment

Examples of stint in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The Norwegian singer-songwriter and Carpenter are linked through their respective stints on Swift’s global Eras trek, which kicked off in March 2023. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 22 Mar. 2024 For her latest stint on the show, she'll be accompanied by musical guest RAYE. Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024 Besides playing in Czechia, Aliu has also had stints in Europe in the KHL, SHL, Allvenskan, and in Slovakia. Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024 In the past decade, attention given to the government’s technological deficiencies has led to the creation of agencies such as the United States Digital Service and 18F—both of which hire tech workers for temporary stints in the public sector. Saahil Desai, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2024 And on Sunday, Daltrey is wrapping up his 24-year stint as the curator of the Teenage Cancer Trust with a blowout concert featuring Pete Townshend, Eddie Vedder, Robert Plant, Paul Weller, and Kelly Jones of the Stereophonics. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2024 Billed as a strictly limited engagement, the Broadway stint is set to wrap on August 10. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2024 His drug habit started young; so did his criminal rap sheet, with stints in juvenile hall for grand theft auto and burglary. Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 John Avlon has been a fixture on CNN over the last several years, following a five-year stint as editor in chief of The Daily Beast. Lachlan Cartwright, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024
Verb
Gregory doesn’t stint from covering the misogyny affecting those women, either. Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2024 Linda Livingstone, president of Baylor University and chair of NCAA board of governors, said Baker’s history as governor and stint as a former CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care demonstrated an ability to listen, learn and adapt. Steve Leblanc, Fortune, 25 Dec. 2023 After his college career with the Cougars and stint with the Raiders, the Houston native also played for the Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars and Washington Commanders before retiring from the NFL after the 2021 season, per ESPN. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 12 Nov. 2023 Boca Raton quickly became the most famous of the Florida boom projects and the MDC did not stint on hyperbole in its advertisements, aimed at potential real estate investors. Klara Glowczewska, Town & Country, 25 July 2023 Add too much or too little water, treat the fit sloppily, or stint on the time each layer takes to harden, and you’ll be left with a mound of dust instead of a shapely shell that will defy rain and stand up to tremors. Justin Davidson, Curbed, 20 Apr. 2023 The other hero of the evening was Donald Runnicles, San Francisco’s former music director, who marshalled Strauss’s potentially cumbersome score without stinting on its opulence. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 3 July 2023 Acquired out of Sundance by A24, the film is thematically a bit thin but doesn’t stint on genuine scares, intensity or revulsion. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2023 And Bart, at least in his lyrics, does not stint on bleakness; even the bouncy title song is violent, proposing various ugly fates for the boy who dares to ask for more food. Jesse Green, New York Times, 4 May 2023

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

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English styntan to blunt, dull; akin to Old Norse stuttr scant

Noun (2)

Middle English stynte

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near stint

Cite this Entry

“Stint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stint. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

stint

1 of 2 verb
1
: to be sparing or stingy
not stinting with their praise
2
: to limit in share or portion : cut short in amount
stint the children's allowance
stinter noun

stint

2 of 2 noun
1
: restriction sense 1, limitation
gave without stint
2
a
: a quantity of work assigned
b
: a period of time spent at a particular activity
served a brief stint as a waiter

Medical Definition

stint

variant of stent

More from Merriam-Webster on stint

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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