: soot, smut, or dirt adhering to or embedded in a surface
broadly
: accumulated dirtiness and disorder
grime
transitive verb
Examples of grime in a Sentence
The windows were coated with grime.
this new product really cuts through grime
Recent Examples on the Web
The Pledge Wood Floor Cleaner Liquid is specially designed to safely and gently remove dirt and grime from hardwood floors, but will work on other floor types in your home.
—
Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Nov. 2023
The kit comes with a cleansing brush to help scrub away stubborn dirt and grime.
—Alyssa Rotunno, Travel + Leisure, 17 Nov. 2023
The scrubber has two speeds and comes with four brush heads that can tackle grime on tubs, tiles, glass, and more.
—Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 11 Nov. 2023
Along with ridding hair of daily dirt, oil, and grime, shampoos are infamous for stripping hair of the natural fats that give strands that super-shiny, camera-ready look and feel.
—Liana Schaffner, Allure, 21 Sep. 2023
Ideal for removing everyday dirt and grime and tough set-in stains, it can also be used for shirts, towels, workout gear and more for versatile use on the go.
—Alyssa Rotunno, Travel + Leisure, 17 Nov. 2023
The Daily Juice Cleanser uses fruit enzymes to get rid of the grime while hyaluronic acid boosts hydration.
—Alyssa Grabinski, Peoplemag, 23 Oct. 2023
Bathroom grime and discolored grout are no match for this electric spin scrubber that comes with eight brush head attachments.
—Lily Gray, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2023
Its innovative design is sturdy, sharp, and safe, perfect for scraping off grime, stickers, and gunk without scratching.
—Hannah Rice, Rolling Stone, 26 Sep. 2023
See More
Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Nov. 2023
The kit comes with a cleansing brush to help scrub away stubborn dirt and grime.
—Alyssa Rotunno, Travel + Leisure, 17 Nov. 2023
The scrubber has two speeds and comes with four brush heads that can tackle grime on tubs, tiles, glass, and more.
—Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 11 Nov. 2023
Along with ridding hair of daily dirt, oil, and grime, shampoos are infamous for stripping hair of the natural fats that give strands that super-shiny, camera-ready look and feel.
—Liana Schaffner, Allure, 21 Sep. 2023
Ideal for removing everyday dirt and grime and tough set-in stains, it can also be used for shirts, towels, workout gear and more for versatile use on the go.
—Alyssa Rotunno, Travel + Leisure, 17 Nov. 2023
The Daily Juice Cleanser uses fruit enzymes to get rid of the grime while hyaluronic acid boosts hydration.
—Alyssa Grabinski, Peoplemag, 23 Oct. 2023
Bathroom grime and discolored grout are no match for this electric spin scrubber that comes with eight brush head attachments.
—Lily Gray, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2023
Its innovative design is sturdy, sharp, and safe, perfect for scraping off grime, stickers, and gunk without scratching.
—Hannah Rice, Rolling Stone, 26 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grime.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle Dutch grime soot, mask; akin to Old English grīma mask
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of grime was
in the 14th century
Articles Related to grime
Dictionary Entries Near grime
Cite this Entry
“Grime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grime. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
grime
noun
: dirt rubbed into or covering a surface
also
: accumulated dirtiness and disorder
grime
verb
griminess
noun
ˈgrī-mē-nəs
grimy
adjective
ˈgrī-mē
More from Merriam-Webster on grime
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share