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

For furniture, a wood cleaner will remove any dirt and grime without harming the surface. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 29 June 2025

The grime was exhilarating, and the glamorous boutiques opening between old-world vestiges — hat stores, bridal shops — gave the neighborhood a sense of urgency. —Mary Jane Gibson, Rolling Stone, 29 June 2025

Another way to clean white leather sneakers that isn’t as traditional is to take a damp magic eraser and rub away any visible dirt or grime on your white leather sneakers, including on the soles of the shoes. —Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 25 June 2025

Any wax or grime on the exterior surface of the aids can be rubbed off with a standard microfiber cloth or an eyeglass cleaning cloth. —Christopher Null, Wired News, 22 June 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