grapevine

noun

grape·​vine ˈgrāp-ˌvīn 

1

: grape sense 2

2

a

: an informal person-to-person means of circulating information or gossip

heard it through the grapevine

b

: a secret source of information

Examples of grapevine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Not long after boarding a city bus in central Vienna, the grand buildings and busy streets of Austria’s capital gave way to wooded hills and rows of grapevines. — Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2026

The destructive pests spread Pierce’s disease, which kills grapevines, and can make homes in numerous other fruits. — Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 8 Sep. 2026

Motel said this year has been favorable for the grapevines despite a harsh winter. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 7 Sep. 2026

The rich landscape gives rise to diverse flavors, from rice paddies in the plains and orange groves in the valleys to grapevines in the countryside. — Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1736, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for grapevine

• alkaline
• andesine
• anodyne
• anticline
• arginine
• asinine
• benzidine
• borderline
• byzantine
• calamine
• caroline
• centerline

Kids Definition

grapevine

noun

grape·​vine ˈgrāp-ˌvīn 

1

: grape sense 2

2

: an unofficial means of spreading information or gossip from person to person

Geographical Definition

Grapevine

geographical name

Grape·​vine ˈgrāp-ˌvīn 

city in northern Texas northeast of Fort Worth