grime

noun

ˈgrīm How to pronounce grime (audio)
Synonyms of grime
: soot, smut, or dirt adhering to or embedded in a surface
broadly : accumulated dirtiness and disorder
grime transitive verb

Synonyms of grime

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of grime in a Sentence

The windows were coated with grime. this new product really cuts through grime
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.
Use a lint-free microfiber cloth or a squeegee to remove the grime and cleaner. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026 Dawn Powerwash Dish Spray Stuck-on food and grime don’t stand a chance against Dawn Powerwash Dish Spray. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2026 The sensors provide overlapping fields of view extending as far as one third of a mile, with heaters, wipers and cleaning systems designed to keep them functioning through undesirable road conditions, including snow and grime. — Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026 The three-foot radius around your toilet is just as prone to collecting bacteria, grime, and accruing smells as the toilet bowl itself. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grime

Word History

Etymology

Middle Dutch grime soot, mask; akin to Old English grīma mask

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of grime was in the 14th century

Rhymes for grime

See All Rhymes for grime

Browse Nearby Words

grimalkin
grime
Grime's ditch
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grime. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

grime

noun
ˈgrīm How to pronounce grime (audio)
: dirt rubbed into or covering a surface
also : accumulated dirtiness and disorder
grime verb
griminess
ˈgrī-mē-nəs
noun
grimy
ˈgrī-mē
adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All