tinkered; tinkering
ˈtiŋ-k(ə-)riŋ 
: 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
: to repair, adjust, or experiment with
plural tinkers
1
a
: a usually itinerant mender of household utensils
b
: an unskillful mender : bungler
2
chiefly Ireland, sometimes offensive
: romani sense 1
Synonyms
Examples of tinker in a Sentence
Verb
He was tinkering in the garage.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nick Kosmider, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
There is no cookie-cutter technique, so doing this consistently requires lots of trial and error, tinkering, determining what works best.
—David Wharton, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
Although plot lines and the release date are under wraps, Halsey and their team have been tinkering away at the Amazon series for years.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 10 Dec. 2024
Musk has also tinkered with U.S. foreign policy in ways that could have dangerous or unpredictable results.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 16 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tinker 
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Verb
The Broncos have tinkered with different roles for Mims this season in an effort to get his speed more involved in the game.
—Nick Kosmider, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
There is no cookie-cutter technique, so doing this consistently requires lots of trial and error, tinkering, determining what works best.
—David Wharton, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
Although plot lines and the release date are under wraps, Halsey and their team have been tinkering away at the Amazon series for years.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 10 Dec. 2024
Musk has also tinkered with U.S. foreign policy in ways that could have dangerous or unpredictable results.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 16 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tinker
Video
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Dictionary Entries Near tinker
Cite this Entry
“Tinker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tinker. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tinker
1 of 2 noun
tin·ker
ˈtiŋ-kər
: 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
: to repair or adjust something in an unskilled or experimental manner
tinkering with his car
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