Meanings
verbpaint by numbers (third-person singular simple present paints by numbers, present participle painting by numbers, simple past and past participle painted by numbers)
present singular third person paints by numbers · participle present painting by numbers · participle past painted by numbers · past painted by numbers
- intransitiveTo complete a painting by numbers kit.
- figurativelyintransitiveTo do something by rote, without thought or creativity.
Cite this entry
APA
paint by numbers. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paint%20by%20numbers
MLA
“paint by numbers.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paint%20by%20numbers. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “paint by numbers,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paint%20by%20numbers.
Source: paint by numbers on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.