sleek
Sleek (verb) means to make something smooth, glossy, or polished. Example: “She sleeked back her hair before stepping on stage.”
How to use sleek
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo smooth or polish something so it looks glossy — most often used of hair or fur.
The adjective "sleek" (smooth, stylish) is far more common today than this verb form — most people will only ever use "sleek" as a describing word.
Word forms
sleeked past tense, sleeks singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ back her hair before stepping on stage.
Etymology
A later spelling variant of "slick," sharing roots with German schleichen ("to creep, glide").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for sleek
See all rhymes for sleek →Frequently asked questions
What does “sleek” mean?
The word “sleek” means to make something smooth, glossy, or polished. In plain terms, to smooth or polish something so it looks glossy — most often used of hair or fur.
How do you pronounce “sleek”?
“Sleek” is pronounced sleek (/sliːk/ in IPA).
How do you use “sleek” in a sentence?
Here is “sleek” used in a sentence: “She sleeked back her hair before stepping on stage.”
What part of speech is “sleek”?
“Sleek” is a verb.
Where does the word “sleek” come from?
The word “sleek” comes from German. A later spelling variant of "slick," sharing roots with German schleichen ("to creep, glide").
Is “sleek” a common word?
“Sleek” is an uncommon word in modern English.
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