nick 1 of 2

noun

ˈnik How to pronounce nick (audio)
Definition of nicknext
1
as in chip
a V-shaped cut usually on an edge or a surface I made a nick in the frame when I accidentally dropped it

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2
as in jail
British slang a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody the blokes at the pub traded stories of nights spent in the nick after having lifted too many pints

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in shape
British a state of being or fitness the princess is in excellent nick these days

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nick

2 of 2

verb

British slang
1
as in to steal
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep that lorry was a piece of rubbish, I don't know why anyone would want to nick it

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2
as in to arrest
to take or keep under one's control by authority of law a petty thief who was always getting nicked for picking the pockets of tourists outside Buckingham Palace

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of nick
Noun
During construction, floorboards were left exposed to develop nicks and dents. — Genevieve Walker, Architectural Digest, 11 July 2026 The handle comes with one original Athena Club cartridge, which has a skin guard to prevent nicks and a hyaluronic acid serum strip. — Sara Coughlin, Allure, 5 July 2026
Verb
Some of those changeups nearly nicked the bottom of the zone, but most were uncompetitive. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2026 However, surgeons accidentally nicked her aorta — the largest blood vessel in the body — during her operation. — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for nick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nick
  1. chip
  2. jail
  3. shape
  4. steal
  5. arrest
  6. slit
  7. prison
  8. condition
Noun
  • For comparison, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world’s largest foundry, began mass-producing 7nm chips in 2018 and can achieve yields exceeding 90%, depending on factors including chip design and die size.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Slate chips replace the usual bark or mulch, and layered plantings, custom window boxes and a medallion set into the rear of the fireplace show the same level of care found indoors.
    — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of chip
Noun
  • Matus’ death took place at the height of the fentanyl epidemic in 2022, when Riverside County jails experienced close to 100 inmate drug overdoses, seven of which resulted in death, according to court documents.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • In 2025, a Kentucky man was killed after he was hit 27 times with a GLOVE by jail employees, on top of 13 jabs from a taser, which ultimately sent him into cardiac arrest.
    — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of jail
Noun
  • Researchers spent decades trying to target a group of mutations called RAS — responsible for nearly a third of all human cancers — but the protein’s flat shape defied typical drugs.
    — Tasneem Nashrulla, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2026
  • And the collectors are looking for independent thinking, independent viewpoints, different designs, different shapes, different ideas.
    — Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of shape
Verb
  • In 1950, just before the LSU-Tulane game, Brown said a Tulane student, Norbert James, and his buddy stole LSU’s Mike the Tiger the night before their football game.
    — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The nectar contains grayanotoxin, a chemical the plant likely evolved to deter insects that steal nectar without pollinating the flower.
    — Prayan Pokharel, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of steal
Verb
  • After years of legal proceedings in the United Kingdom and Romania, the Tates were arrested in Miami by US Marshals on July 18 on provisional arrest warrants requested by Britain.
    — Jonny Hallam, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Then, in March 2025, he was arrested for the rape of a 46-year-old woman earlier that year.
    — Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of arrest
Noun
  • The actress went strapless in a corseted leopard print Givenchy dress complete with a giant bow and a sultry thigh-high slit.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 27 Aug. 2026
  • His girlfriend, actor and model Elizabeth Hurley, wore a purple dress with a long slit to mark the occasion.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of slit
Noun
  • Adan Osman Salat, 23, was sentenced to two years fixed and a possible 15 years on probation or in prison by 3rd District Judge Gabriel McCarthy, according to online court records and audio obtained by the Idaho Statesman.
    — Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 27 Aug. 2026
  • When the brothers arrived in court two days later, the jewel tones were ditched, and each wore a drab tan prison jumpsuit.
    — Jonny Hallam, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of prison
Noun
  • The comments were laid out in a two-page letter published via Telegram, as the country set its conditions for reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and touted the prospect of a return to diplomatic negotiations.
    — Sam Meredith,Lim Hui Jie,Mike Sheen, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Rather than just a reproductive issue, endometriosis is a whole-body condition, affecting everything from emotional regulation to hormone production and gut health.
    — Bella Webb, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of condition

Phrases Containing nick

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niching
nick
nick (at)
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Cite this Entry

“Nick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nick. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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