: 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 initial half-hour of rain is when roads are slickest due to a mixture of rain, grime, and oil.
—
Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025
How Often To Clean Wood Cabinets Regular cleaning to remove dust and dirt can keep grime from building up.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2025
Through the grime, though, Payton could squint and see progress.
—Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
An ultrasonic bath lifts away the grime that collects from everyday handling, especially in textured or engraved metal.
—Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grime
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Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025
How Often To Clean Wood Cabinets Regular cleaning to remove dust and dirt can keep grime from building up.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2025
Through the grime, though, Payton could squint and see progress.
—Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
An ultrasonic bath lifts away the grime that collects from everyday handling, especially in textured or engraved metal.
—Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grime
Cite this Entry
“Grime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grime. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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
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