grime

noun

ˈgrīm 

: soot, smut, or dirt adhering to or embedded in a surface

broadly : accumulated dirtiness and disorder

grime transitive verb

Synonyms

• dirt
• muck
• soil
• filth

Examples of grime in a Sentence

The windows were coated with grime.

this new product really cuts through grime

Recent Examples on the Web

How To Clean Linoleum Floors With Vinegar Vinegar is effective at cleaning floors and disinfecting them, but for more cleaning power, add a few squirts of dish soap to the mix, which works well at removing grease and grime from floors. —Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025

On the platform, around the clock, the racket of metal bore pipes and machinery, the drilling grime and the speckled mud mingled with the quieter, cleaner work of scientists in trailers converted to pristine labs and processing posts. —Rodrique Ngowi, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025

With a quick swipe, dirt and grime lifted effortlessly from her pores and her complexion felt hydrated and rejuvenated. —Esme Benjamin, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025

For stubborn grime, a deck cleaner product and a stiff brush can be effective. —Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle Dutch grime soot, mask; akin to Old English grīma mask

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for grime

• chime
• chyme
• climb
• clime
• crime
• dime
• lime
• lyme
• mime
• prime
• rhyme
• slime

Kids Definition

grime

noun

ˈgrīm 

: dirt rubbed into or covering a surface

also : accumulated dirtiness and disorder

grime verb

griminess

ˈgrī-mē-nəs

noun

grimy

ˈgrī-mē

adjective