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
Examples of net in a Sentence
Noun (1)
the basketball didn't go into the basket—it just hit the net
drug runners caught in an elaborate net set by the police
caught in a net of palace intrigues
Verb (1)
the kite was stubbornly netted in the branches of the willow tree
a police sting that netted drug dealers from all parts of the city
Adjective
The net result of the new bridge will be fewer traffic jams.
Verb (2)
the entrepreneur netted millions on that deal
Noun (2)
his net for the year was about 60% of his total income
the net of the report on race relations is that things are better but not good enough
Recent Examples on the Web
Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Flynn Meyer and Mia Avgeris combined for the shutout in net without having to make a save behind a defense led by Watt, Fansler, Aly Sudkamp and Ella Forystek.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
Lara Prasnikar netted the ensuing penalty kick with a shot into the upper-left corner of the net that beat the dive of Legacy keeper Casey Murphy.
—Greg Dudek, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
Elaine Yu, CNBC, 25 Mar. 2026
Cosco said net profit in the fourth quarter was the lowest of all four quarters, falling 60 percent to $532 million.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for net
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show current usage.
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Noun
Avery DiMambro paced things with a team-high six goals, while Cadence Dionne recorded 19 saves in net as Abington defeated nonleague foe Fontbonne in a thriller, 11-10.
—Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Flynn Meyer and Mia Avgeris combined for the shutout in net without having to make a save behind a defense led by Watt, Fansler, Aly Sudkamp and Ella Forystek.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
Ball netted a team-best 19 points mixed in with four rebounds and three assists.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
Lara Prasnikar netted the ensuing penalty kick with a shot into the upper-left corner of the net that beat the dive of Legacy keeper Casey Murphy.
—Greg Dudek, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Powered by Labubu, Pop Mart's revenue and net income in 2025 surged 185% and 309%, respectively.
—Elaine Yu, CNBC, 25 Mar. 2026
Cosco said net profit in the fourth quarter was the lowest of all four quarters, falling 60 percent to $532 million.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for net
Cite this Entry
“Net.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/net. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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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