grime

noun

: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
With your hinge pin removed, clean the whole thing down for any stuck grime and try greasing again. Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 5 Aug. 2025 On the windy Sunday, gusts kick up clouds of dust from the arena, covering the contestants in a layer of grime. Aaron Sullivan, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025 My hair had grown; it would have been ragged, windswept, caked with sea grime. Literary Hub, 29 July 2025 Most dishwashers have multiple screens and filters with different-sized holes to capture food debris and grime, preventing it from being washed further downstream. Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for grime

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grime. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

grime

noun
: dirt rubbed into or covering a surface
also : accumulated dirtiness and disorder
grime verb
griminess
ˈgrī-mē-nəs
noun
grimy
ˈgrī-mē
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on grime

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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