paring knife

noun

: a small short-bladed knife (as for paring fruit)

Examples of paring knife in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Using a sharp paring knife, carve eyes and mouths into each beet. — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026 Run a paring knife around edges of the pan and invert onto cooling rack. — Martha Stewart, 9 Oct. 2026 Use a sharp paring knife to scrape the vanilla seeds from both halves of the bean, and add both the seeds and the pod to the pot. — ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026 Step 2 Remove from oven and, working quickly so potatoes remain hot, peel with a paring knife and halve. — Alexia Duchêne, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for paring knife

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of paring knife was in the 15th century

Rhymes for paring knife

See All Rhymes for paring knife

Browse Nearby Words

paring iron
paring knife
Parintintin
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Paring knife.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paring%20knife. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All