: 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
Many of us believe this time of renewal is the perfect moment to deep clean dust and grime and declutter our homes.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2026
Like vinegar, lemon juice is an acidic ingredient that easily cuts through grease and grime, Balaban explains.
—Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 7 Mar. 2026
Despite the gaps in the Peaky Blinders lineup, the show’s iconic universe of tan-colored leather, suave tailoring, hard liquor, swill, and grime has been carefully restored.
—Miriam Balanescu, IndieWire, 5 Mar. 2026
Add a protective barrier of wood furniture wax once a year to prevent grease and grime from discoloring the wood.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grime
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.
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2026
Like vinegar, lemon juice is an acidic ingredient that easily cuts through grease and grime, Balaban explains.
—Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 7 Mar. 2026
Despite the gaps in the Peaky Blinders lineup, the show’s iconic universe of tan-colored leather, suave tailoring, hard liquor, swill, and grime has been carefully restored.
—Miriam Balanescu, IndieWire, 5 Mar. 2026
Add a protective barrier of wood furniture wax once a year to prevent grease and grime from discoloring the wood.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grime
Cite this Entry
“Grime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grime. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
