groove

1 of 2

noun

ˈgrüv 

1

: a long narrow channel or depression

2

a

: a fixed routine : rut

b

: a situation suited to one's abilities or interests : niche

3

: top form

a great talker when he is in the groove

4

: the middle of the strike zone in baseball where a pitch is most easily hit

a fastball right in the groove

5

: an enjoyable or exciting experience

6

: a pronounced enjoyable rhythm

groove

2 of 2

verb

grooved; grooving

transitive verb

1

a

: to make a groove in

b

: to join by a groove

2

: to perfect by repeated practice

grooved her golf swing

3

: to throw (a pitch) in the groove

intransitive verb

1

: to become joined or fitted by a groove

2

: to form a groove

3

: to enjoy oneself intensely

4

: to interact harmoniously

… when things came together musically and started to groove, we both knew it.

—Terre Roche

groover noun

Synonyms of groove

Noun

• routine
• grind
• rut
• pattern

Verb

• file
• scratch
• seam
• scribe

Examples of groove in a Sentence

Noun

the grooves on a vinyl record

The door slides along a groove in the doorframe.

He's a great pitcher when he's in a groove.

She hasn't yet found her groove.

They've gotten stuck in a groove in their jobs.

Verb

We grooved to the beat.

if you groove that piece of wood, we should be able to fit this smaller board into it

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The group was encased in wrap-around screens projecting visuals of their performance and only barely visible as the slow-burn groove of the song unfurled over beautifully overlapping guitars. —Daniel Dylan Wray, Pitchfork, 5 Nov. 2025

Returning director Dan Trachtenberg is clearly in a groove here, and his enthusiasm helps, notably in the film’s impeccable world-building. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025

Verb

And perhaps Edwards’ absence will force the likes of Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels and Donte DiVincenzo to find more consistent offense grooves out of necessity and volume. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 27 Oct. 2025

And people are grooving, people are dancing, people are moving, people are touching, people are feeling, people are smiling, and that's a good feeling. —Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English grove pit, cave, from Middle Dutch groeve; akin to Old High German gruoba pit, cave, Old English grafan to dig — more at grave entry 5

First Known Use

Noun

1659, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1686, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing groove

• tongue and groove

Rhymes for groove

• move
• prove
• approve
• disprove
• improve
• remove
• reprove
• disapprove

Kids Definition

groove

1 of 2 noun

ˈgrüv 

1

: a long narrow channel made in a surface

2

: a fixed routine : rut

3

: top form

groove

2 of 2 verb

grooved; grooving

1

a

: to form a groove in

b

: to become grooved

2

: to enjoy very much

Medical Definition

groove

noun

ˈgrüv 

: a long narrow depression occurring naturally on the surface of an organism or an anatomical part