tinker

1 of 2

verb

tin·​ker ˈtiŋ-kər How to pronounce tinker (audio)
tinkered; tinkering ˈtiŋ-k(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce tinker (audio)

intransitive verb

: to work in the manner of a tinker
especially : to repair, adjust, or work with something in an unskilled or experimental manner : fiddle
always tinkering with his car

transitive verb

: to repair, adjust, or experiment with
tinkerer noun

tinker

2 of 2

noun

plural tinkers
1
a
: a usually itinerant mender of household utensils
b
: an unskillful mender : bungler
2
chiefly Ireland, sometimes offensive : romani sense 1

Examples of tinker in a Sentence

Verb He was tinkering in the garage.
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.
Verb
But the bigger problem is an alien who’s tinkering with a gum flavor and turning residents into zombies. Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2025 Rather than waiting to slide down the cognitive decline curve, people might consider tinkering with their metabolism to stave off their brain’s aging process or consider other strategies to combat cognitive decline. Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 5 Mar. 2025 Eight years ago, the creative pioneer began tinkering with motion-capture cameras in hopes of finding a way to integrate taste and flavor into his works. Kristin Tablang, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025 There will be some tinkering around the fringes, but with less than a year between the events, the cores will remain the same. Max Bultman, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tinker

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English tinkere

First Known Use

Verb

1655, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tinker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tinker. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

tinker

1 of 2 noun
tin·​ker ˈtiŋ-kər How to pronounce tinker (audio)
: a person who travels around and earns a living by repairing household utensils (as pots and pans)

tinker

2 of 2 verb
tinkered; tinkering ˈtiŋ-k(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce tinker (audio)
: to repair or adjust something in an unskilled or experimental manner
tinkering with his car
tinkerer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on tinker

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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