1
a
: an open-meshed fabric twisted, knotted, or woven together at regular intervals
b
: something made of net: such as
(1)
: a device for catching fish, birds, or insects
(2)
: a fabric barricade (see barricade entry 2 sense 1a) which divides a court in half (as in tennis or volleyball) and over which a ball or shuttlecock must be hit to be in play
(3)
: the fabric that encloses the sides and back of the goal (see goal sense 2a) in various games (such as soccer or hockey)
shot the puck into the net
2
: an entrapping device or situation
caught in the net of suspicious circumstances
cannot escape the net of circumstances in which he is caught—
W. P. Webb
W. P. Webb3
: something resembling a net in reticulation (as of lines, fibers, or figures)
the net of global communication
… the systemic net of restrictions …—John Edgar Wideman
John Edgar Wideman4
a
: a group of communications stations operating under unified control
Army radio net
b
5
or less commonly Net
: internet
world news on the Net
netted; netting
1
: to cover or enclose with or as if with a net
2
: to catch in or as if in a net
3
: to cover with or as if with a network
4
a
: to hit (a ball) into the net for the loss of a point in a racket game
b
: to hit (a ball or puck) into the goal for a score (as in hockey or soccer)
also
: to score (a point or goal) by netting a ball or puck
netter
noun
Synonyms
Examples of net in a Sentence
Adjective
The net result of the new bridge will be fewer traffic jams.
Recent Examples on the WebTodd Spangler, Variety, 19 Apr. 2024
Pacific sleeper sharks are most often encountered as bycatch in the nets of Alaska’s commercial fisheries, and few survive the trauma, experts say.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2024
Marine life also can get tangled in nets, cords and other plastic debris, which hinders their ability to swim and in some cases can be a severe choking hazard.
—Kurt Snibbe, Orange County Register, 18 Apr. 2024
The ports also have processing facilities, where workers inspect cars for damage and install items like tow hitches, mats, lighting, wheel locks and cargo nets.
—Peter Eavis, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2024
In addition to a fishing pole and fishing net, the table comes with a water cup and five little plastic critters for kids to catch.
—Laura Lu, Parents, 15 Apr. 2024
Marquez didn’t have an angle but still found a way to put the ball in the net despite Diamond Hill-Jarvis’ goalkeeper blocking nearly the entire shooting lane.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
Those that haven’t been identified through Western taxonomy end up falling through the net of conservation programs.
—Helen Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Dressed in a gray sweatsuit and talking trash, LaMelo Ball fires up a shot from halfcourt that swishes through the net, causing the Charlotte Hornets star to take a dig at rookie Amari Bailey.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2024
Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2024
The Hill star stepped out at CinemaCon with his wife Laura Savoie, whom he has been married to since 2020 — with Savoie wearing an elegant cream netted dress.
—Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024
Ruth earned $70,000, which equates to about $1.2 million today, and Gehrig netted $45,000.
—Joe Davidson, Sacramento Bee, 4 Apr. 2024
Those who changed jobs between February and March netted average raises of 10% since the same period last year, while those who stayed put saw pay jump 5.1%.
—J.j. McCorvey, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024
Outside of her onscreen career, Bailey is best known as one half of her sister music due Chloe & Halle, as well as her solo artist efforts, all of which have netted her multiple Grammy nominations.
—Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024
Last week, the AC Milan striker netted three times to secure his nation a spot at May’s U17 European Championship in Cyprus.
—David Ferrini, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Since then, he’s offloaded a total of 50 million shares, netting him $8.5 billion.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2024
The net result of this entails more desk jobs or sedentary tasks and less physical movement; when holistically netted across the global economy over the course of multiple decades, this phenomenon has certainly made a significant impact on human health.
—Sai Balasubramanian, M.d., J.d., Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Todd Spangler, Variety, 19 Apr. 2024
Phoenix outscores its opponents by 9.2 points per 100 possessions when the center is on the floor this year, easily the best net rating among the five starters.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2024
Zuckerberg’s net worth has grown by more than $47 billion in 2024 to hit $175 billion as of Wednesday, according to Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2024
His net worth spiked in 2008 because of an inheritance gifted to him and his wife, not insider trading.
—Hannah Hudnall, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
For 2023, the firm reported net income of $38 million compared with a loss of nearly $55 million in 2022.
—María Soledad Davila Calero, Fortune, 18 Apr. 2024
The world wants to get to net zero—by removing historic emissions from the atmosphere and neutralizing current ones—by 2050.
—Jessica Rawnsley, WIRED, 18 Apr. 2024
The deal provides $250,000 or 3 percent of net revenue from ticket sales to the Del Mar Fairgrounds, whichever is higher, as well as 40 percent of parking revenue and $5 per concession ticket sold.
—Luke Harold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2024
The company is not profitable, and reported a net loss of about of $39 million in 2023.
—Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
Noun
Netflix handily topped expectations for subscribers net adds, gaining 9.33 million in the period, to reach nearly 270 million globally.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 19 Apr. 2024
Pacific sleeper sharks are most often encountered as bycatch in the nets of Alaska’s commercial fisheries, and few survive the trauma, experts say.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2024
Marine life also can get tangled in nets, cords and other plastic debris, which hinders their ability to swim and in some cases can be a severe choking hazard.
—Kurt Snibbe, Orange County Register, 18 Apr. 2024
The ports also have processing facilities, where workers inspect cars for damage and install items like tow hitches, mats, lighting, wheel locks and cargo nets.
—Peter Eavis, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2024
In addition to a fishing pole and fishing net, the table comes with a water cup and five little plastic critters for kids to catch.
—Laura Lu, Parents, 15 Apr. 2024
Marquez didn’t have an angle but still found a way to put the ball in the net despite Diamond Hill-Jarvis’ goalkeeper blocking nearly the entire shooting lane.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
Those that haven’t been identified through Western taxonomy end up falling through the net of conservation programs.
—Helen Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Dressed in a gray sweatsuit and talking trash, LaMelo Ball fires up a shot from halfcourt that swishes through the net, causing the Charlotte Hornets star to take a dig at rookie Amari Bailey.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2024
Verb
Advertisement The seven shutouts away from San Diego netted five victories and two ties, while driving the second-year franchise to the league’s best road record and a first-round bye in the playoffs.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2024
The Hill star stepped out at CinemaCon with his wife Laura Savoie, whom he has been married to since 2020 — with Savoie wearing an elegant cream netted dress.
—Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024
Ruth earned $70,000, which equates to about $1.2 million today, and Gehrig netted $45,000.
—Joe Davidson, Sacramento Bee, 4 Apr. 2024
Those who changed jobs between February and March netted average raises of 10% since the same period last year, while those who stayed put saw pay jump 5.1%.
—J.j. McCorvey, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024
Outside of her onscreen career, Bailey is best known as one half of her sister music due Chloe & Halle, as well as her solo artist efforts, all of which have netted her multiple Grammy nominations.
—Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024
Last week, the AC Milan striker netted three times to secure his nation a spot at May’s U17 European Championship in Cyprus.
—David Ferrini, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Since then, he’s offloaded a total of 50 million shares, netting him $8.5 billion.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2024
The net result of this entails more desk jobs or sedentary tasks and less physical movement; when holistically netted across the global economy over the course of multiple decades, this phenomenon has certainly made a significant impact on human health.
—Sai Balasubramanian, M.d., J.d., Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Adjective
The company reported full-year 2023 revenue of $41.3 billion, down 4% on a pro-forma basis, and a net loss of $3.13 billion (versus $5.36 billion on a pro-forma basis in 2022).
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 19 Apr. 2024
Phoenix outscores its opponents by 9.2 points per 100 possessions when the center is on the floor this year, easily the best net rating among the five starters.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2024
Zuckerberg’s net worth has grown by more than $47 billion in 2024 to hit $175 billion as of Wednesday, according to Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2024
His net worth spiked in 2008 because of an inheritance gifted to him and his wife, not insider trading.
—Hannah Hudnall, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
For 2023, the firm reported net income of $38 million compared with a loss of nearly $55 million in 2022.
—María Soledad Davila Calero, Fortune, 18 Apr. 2024
The world wants to get to net zero—by removing historic emissions from the atmosphere and neutralizing current ones—by 2050.
—Jessica Rawnsley, WIRED, 18 Apr. 2024
The deal provides $250,000 or 3 percent of net revenue from ticket sales to the Del Mar Fairgrounds, whichever is higher, as well as 40 percent of parking revenue and $5 per concession ticket sold.
—Luke Harold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2024
The company is not profitable, and reported a net loss of about of $39 million in 2023.
—Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'net.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near net
Cite this Entry
“Net.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/net. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
net
1 of 5 noun1
: a fabric made of threads, cords, ropes, or wires that weave in and out with much open space
2
: something made of net: as
a
: a device for catching fish, birds, or insects
b
: a fabric barricade which divides a court in half (as in tennis or badminton)
c
: the fabric that encloses the sides and back of the goal (as in hockey or soccer)
3
: something that traps like a net
a net of thorns
4
: a network of lines, fibers, or figures
5
often capitalized
: internet
netted
adjective
ˈnet-əd
net
2 of 5 verb
netted; netting
1
: to cover with or as if with a net
2
: to catch in or as if in a net
net fish
3
: to hit the ball into the net in a racket game
netter
noun
net
3 of 5 adjective
: free from all charges or deductions
net profit
net weight
net
4 of 5 verb
netted; netting
: to gain or produce as profit
netted five dollars on the sale
net
5 of 5 noun
: a net amount, profit, weight, or price
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