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

Doing so helps keep germs, bacteria, dirt, and grime from turning into stubborn stains or odors. —Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 June 2025

Watch out for slippery roads: 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, 10 June 2025

Watch out for slippery roads: The first half-hour of rain is when roads are slickest due to a mix of rain, grime, and oil. —Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 9 June 2025

Any grime or bacteria will naturally come off at this point. —Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 8 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