1
a
: a loose granular material that results from the disintegration of rocks, consists of particles smaller than gravel but coarser than silt, and is used in mortar, glass, abrasives, and foundry molds
b
: soil containing 85 percent or more of sand and a maximum of 10 percent of clay
broadly
: sandy soil
3
: the sand in an hourglass
also
: the moments of a lifetime
—usually used in plural
the sands of this government run out very rapidly —
H. J. Laski
H. J. Laski 4
: an oil-producing formation of sandstone or unconsolidated sand
5
: firm resolution
6
: a yellowish-gray color
sanded; sanding; sands
1
: to sprinkle or dust with or as if with sand
2
: to cover or fill with sand
3
: to smooth or dress by grinding or rubbing with an abrasive (such as sandpaper)
Synonyms
Examples of sand in a Sentence
Noun
The beaches are covered with pinkish sand.
I have sand in my shoe.
The children are playing in the sand.
She walked across the hot sand.
Verb
You should sand the shelf before painting it.
Be sure to sand before you paint the shelf.
The streets are slippery because they haven't been sanded yet.
Recent Examples on the WebBarbara J. King, NPR, 13 May 2024
Between the river and the nearby historic clock tower — a replica of Big Ben — is a beach with sand, parasols and room for 800 people.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 May 2024
In the photo, Tristan stood up in a sand pit while covered in sand on his lower half.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 12 May 2024
All these layers contain the aggregates – the pieces of rock and sand – glued together with the asphalt binder in some way.
—Mansour Solaimanian, The Conversation, 10 May 2024
But without modern equipment, the sand required to make that glass remained hard to come by.
—Corey Buhay, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 May 2024
Pots of standard potting soil and sand were used as a control group.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 1 May 2024
Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good are playing in the sand.
—Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 1 May 2024
Summer White White linen sets, white sand beaches, a classic white pedicure…the fresh hue is practically synonymous with summertime.
—Annie Blay, Allure, 18 Apr. 2024
Nor'adila Hepburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2024
This helps to replenish the skin from within—rather than sanding them off your face with harsh active ingredients.
—Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 8 May 2024
Honolulu has the surf and sand Hawaii is known for in a metropolitan environment.
—Blake Bakkila, Sunset Magazine, 15 Mar. 2024
Using scrap metal and mostly hand tools, each worker is responsible for a different part of the production including cutting metal parts, shaping them, sanding them and welding them.
—Orlando Matos, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2024
Weinstein founded the agency alongside Bryan Besser sand Adam Levine in 2010.
—Katcy Stephan, Variety, 21 Feb. 2024
As can be expected when turning a novel into a child-friendly musical experience, the edges of the story are noticeably sanded down.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2024
In order to reach the widest possible Netflix audience, that cultural context has been completely universalized and most of the biggest ideas, which remain too frequently as vestigial references, have been sanded down to purposeless traces of coolness instead of integral elements.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2024
The construction was almost impossible to discern; the separation between precious and the mundane sanded away.
—Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024
Noun
For an amphibious soul, the height of joy comes with underwater tracking: Foster taught himself to see tracks of mollusks in the sand atop the back of a stingray, or an octopus's predation marks on a shell.
—Barbara J. King, NPR, 13 May 2024
Between the river and the nearby historic clock tower — a replica of Big Ben — is a beach with sand, parasols and room for 800 people.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 May 2024
In the photo, Tristan stood up in a sand pit while covered in sand on his lower half.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 12 May 2024
All these layers contain the aggregates – the pieces of rock and sand – glued together with the asphalt binder in some way.
—Mansour Solaimanian, The Conversation, 10 May 2024
But without modern equipment, the sand required to make that glass remained hard to come by.
—Corey Buhay, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 May 2024
Pots of standard potting soil and sand were used as a control group.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 1 May 2024
Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good are playing in the sand.
—Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 1 May 2024
Summer White White linen sets, white sand beaches, a classic white pedicure…the fresh hue is practically synonymous with summertime.
—Annie Blay, Allure, 18 Apr. 2024
Verb
Before applying, sand the area with 180/200 sandpaper and clean thoroughly with a degreaser for smooth, even results.
—Nor'adila Hepburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2024
This helps to replenish the skin from within—rather than sanding them off your face with harsh active ingredients.
—Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 8 May 2024
Honolulu has the surf and sand Hawaii is known for in a metropolitan environment.
—Blake Bakkila, Sunset Magazine, 15 Mar. 2024
Using scrap metal and mostly hand tools, each worker is responsible for a different part of the production including cutting metal parts, shaping them, sanding them and welding them.
—Orlando Matos, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2024
Weinstein founded the agency alongside Bryan Besser sand Adam Levine in 2010.
—Katcy Stephan, Variety, 21 Feb. 2024
As can be expected when turning a novel into a child-friendly musical experience, the edges of the story are noticeably sanded down.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2024
In order to reach the widest possible Netflix audience, that cultural context has been completely universalized and most of the biggest ideas, which remain too frequently as vestigial references, have been sanded down to purposeless traces of coolness instead of integral elements.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2024
The construction was almost impossible to discern; the separation between precious and the mundane sanded away.
—Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sand.' 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 sand
Cite this Entry
“Sand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sand. Accessed 23 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sand
1 of 2 noun1
: loose material in grains produced by the natural breaking up of rocks
2
: a soil made up mostly of sand
sand
2 of 2 verb1
: to sprinkle with sand
2
: to smooth by rubbing with sandpaper
Medical Definition
sand
noun
: gritty particles in various body tissues or fluids see brain sand
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share