Verbs for Marking · Verbs: Manual Action

to put a check mark on or near an item to show it is done or verified

"Check off completed tasks on your list."

"I need to check off each item on my shopping list as I put it into the cart."

to mark something with ink

"Ink the official documents with signatures."

"The artist inked the lines of the drawing using a fine tipped pen before adding watercolor to the image."

to mark or decorate the skin with permanent ink

"She tattoos floral designs on clients."

"The sailor decided to tattoo an anchor on his arm to remember his years of service in the navy."

to mark something with irregular spots

"Paint splotched his new shirt."

"The artist accidentally splotched the canvas with a dark color, ruining the intended effect of the painting."

to place a small, round spot or point on a surface

"Dot the i's carefully when writing."

"The artist dotted the canvas with tiny points of color using a technique called pointillism that creates a shimmering effect."

to mark with small, tiny spots

"Freckles fleck her sunburned nose area."

"The sunlight flecked the surface of the water with tiny sparkles that looked like diamonds floating on the waves."

to make a mark or spot on a surface by spreading a liquid substance

"Blot the spilled coffee with a towel."

"He used a tissue to blot the excess lipstick from her lips so that it would not smear onto her teeth."

to mark something with tiny particles or spots

"Mold specks the old cheese surface."

"The bird's egg is specked with small brown spots that help it camouflage among the rocks and twigs."

to stain something, usually a surface, with a large, irregularly shaped discoloration or blemish

"Ink blotches the paper."

"The spilled paint blotched the clean white tablecloth with large, uneven patches of bright red color."

to add long, narrow bands or lines of a different color or texture to an object

"The artist stripes the canvas with blue."

"The painter striped the wall with alternating bands of blue and white to create a nautical theme in the bathroom."

to arrange or form something in a consistent and recognizable design or sequence, often involving repetition

"The designer patterns fabric with floral prints."

"The designer patterned the fabric with small flowers and leaves to create a fresh spring look for the dress collection."

to imprint a distinctive mark or design on paper or an image, often as a means of identification or to prevent counterfeiting

"The paper watermarks important documents for security."

"The artist decided to watermark her digital images with her logo to prevent people from using them without permission."

to press or stamp a design into a surface so it sits below the level of the surface

"The logo debosses into the leather surface."

"The book cover was debossed with the title so that it sat slightly below the surface of the material."

to create a raised design or pattern on a surface, typically by impressing or stamping with a die or tool

"The stamp embosses the paper with gold."

"The wedding invitation was embossed with a raised gold design that made it look elegant and expensive."

to mark or identify with a projecting piece, label, or tag

"Tab the important files."

"The librarian used small colored tabs to mark the beginning of each chapter in the thick reference book."

to leave a sign, line, etc. on something

"She marks the correct answer box."

"Please mark the important dates on your calendar so you do not forget them."

to put or draw a mark on something in order to make it more noticeable

"Flag the important sections in your book."

"The teacher asked the student to flag any difficult words in the text by underlining them with a pencil."

to draw one or more lines beneath a word, phrase, or passage to emphasize or draw attention to it

"Please underline the important words."

"The teacher asked students to underline the key phrases in the text for better comprehension."

to make a picture of something using a pencil, pen, etc. without coloring it

"He can draw well."

"The artist decided to draw a detailed sketch of the ancient ruins, focusing on the intricate architectural lines."

to cover a surface or object with a colored liquid, usually for decoration

"I will paint that wall."

"She decided to paint the entire living room a soothing shade of blue for a calming atmosphere."

to mark a distinctive symbol, logo, or trademark onto an object or surface

"Ranchers brand cattle with hot irons."

"The rancher branded the young calves with a hot iron to show which cattle belonged to his ranch."

to make a lasting mark on a surface or material through pressure or contact

"The seal will imprint on the wax."

"The child's first steps left an indelible imprint on her parents' hearts."

to make small cuts or marks on a surface

"Don't scratch the table."

"Be careful not to scratch the paint on the car when you are washing it with a rough sponge."

to create marks or discoloration on a surface, usually by accidentally spilling or allowing a substance to absorb

"Coffee can stain clothes."

"The spilled ink will stain the carpet if it is not cleaned up immediately after the accident."