: soot, smut, or dirt adhering to or embedded in a surface
broadly
: accumulated dirtiness and disorder
grime
transitive verb
Examples of grime in a Sentence
The windows were coated with grime.
this new product really cuts through grime
Recent Examples on the Web
Frequently Asked Questions What causes bathtub rings to form?
Bathtub rings form from a variety of elements, like grime, body oils, and water minerals that stick to the sides of the tub.
—
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 2 May 2025
Overall, the extra grime, which necessitates an extra level of offensive execution, has added to the product.
—The Athletic Nba Staff, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Gone are the days of swapping between a broom and a clunky vacuum cleaner to get the grime off of your floors.
—Clara McMahon, People.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Streaky Car Windows Windows in the car are magnets for fingerprints, dirt, and grime.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grime
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.
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 2 May 2025
Overall, the extra grime, which necessitates an extra level of offensive execution, has added to the product.
—The Athletic Nba Staff, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Gone are the days of swapping between a broom and a clunky vacuum cleaner to get the grime off of your floors.
—Clara McMahon, People.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Streaky Car Windows Windows in the car are magnets for fingerprints, dirt, and grime.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grime
Cite this Entry
“Grime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grime. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
grime
noun
: dirt rubbed into or covering a surface
also
: accumulated dirtiness and disorder
grime
verb
griminess
noun
ˈgrī-mē-nəs
grimy
adjective
ˈgrī-mē
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share