groom

noun

\ ˈgrüm

, ˈgru̇m

Definition of groom

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : bridegroom

2a : a person responsible for the feeding, exercising, and stabling of horses

b(1) archaic : manservant

(2) : one of several officers of the English royal household

3 archaic : man, fellow

groom

verb

groomed; grooming; grooms

Definition of groom (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to clean and maintain the appearance of (an animal) especially : to maintain the health and condition of the coat of (a horse, dog, etc.) by brushing, combing, currying, or similar attention

2 : to make neat or attractive an impeccably groomed woman

3 : to get into readiness for a specific objective : prepare was being groomed as a presidential candidate

intransitive verb

: to groom oneself

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about groom

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Synonyms for groom

Synonyms: Verb

fit, fix, lay, prep, prepare, ready

Examples of groom in a Sentence

Verb

The horses are being groomed for the competition. She spent hours grooming herself. She always seems to be perfectly groomed and neatly dressed. He is being groomed to take over the company.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Chief among these is a wedding-night ritual in which the newest member of the family, bride or groom, must choose a card that dictates which game the family will play that evening. — Ross Douthat, National Review, "Horror-Comedy Ready or Not Plays on Primal Human Fears," 12 Sep. 2019 Officials say at least 63 died -- the bride and groom survived -- but relatives think the death toll may be higher. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, "What a wedding massacre says about Trump's plan to leave Afghanistan," 19 Aug. 2019 And then the bride and groom made a getaway in a vintage convertible (and couture Giambattista Valli for her). — Stellene Volandes, Town & Country, "Inside Amanda Hearst and Joachim Rønning's Stunning Hearst Castle Wedding," 3 Aug. 2019 The groom would then arrive in his nightshirt, sometimes accompanied by musicians. — Brian Fagan, The Conversation, "The bizarre social history of beds," 13 Sep. 2019 Bachelorette parties toting gigantic cut-outs of the groom’s face dominate bottle-service club nights in Las Vegas. — Hope Corrigan, Quartzy, "Today’s bachelorette parties have everything—except budgets," 6 Sep. 2019 The groom’s father — the famously domineering Joseph Kennedy — was involved in every detail of wedding planning, including the dress, according to author Rosemary Reed Miller in a 2007 interview with NPR. — Gillian Brockell, chicagotribune.com, "Jackie Kennedy’s fairy-tale wedding was a nightmare for her dress designer," 29 Aug. 2019 This helps pave the wide road by which predatory ministers, staff members, volunteers and members within Protestant churches groom and abuse children. — Susan Codone, Twin Cities, "Susan Codone: Protestants must step up efforts to stop sexual abuse in churches," 28 Aug. 2019 The groom’s relationship with the horses is as different as their personalities. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Day in the life of a groom on the Del Mar backstretch," 24 Aug. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Queen Elizabeth's late mother, Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon, was an intricate part of the royal family and played a key role in grooming Queen Elizabeth to take over the crown after her father, George VI, died in 1952. — Morgan M. Evans, Fox News, "Meghan Markle's 37th birthday has a special meaning for the Queen," 31 July 2018 Every episode takes place over the course of a week, with each of the Fab Five helping to improve a different area of their subject’s life, from grooming to fashion. — Yohana Desta, HWD, "How Queer Eye Season 1 Captured That Emotional Coming-Out Scene," 11 June 2018 Hiddink had succeeded Van Gaal in 2014, with a view to grooming Danny Blind to take over and lead a new generation. — SI.com, "Netherlands Hires Ronald Koeman as New National Team Manager," 6 Feb. 2018 But nothing prevents them from grooming potential informants, perhaps over a beer at a Harvard Square bar or at one of the school’s many social functions. — Daniel Golden, Town & Country, "How Spy Agencies Use American Universities to Secretly Recruit Students," 13 Oct. 2017 In 2017, as Mugabe groomed his second wife to succeed him, the military revolted, replacing him with Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is every bit as tyrannical. — Nr Editors, National Review, "The Week," 12 Sep. 2019 Along with Collins, La'Darius Jefferson appears to be getting groomed for short-yardage, goal-line carries with two short TD runs Saturday. — Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan State football stock watch: Elijah Collins on rise behind feisty offensive line," 9 Sep. 2019 Benefit has established itself as the go-to brow expert, with a handful of products dedicated specifically to shaping, defining, and grooming your brows. — Kara Nesvig, Teen Vogue, "Hayley Kiyoko's Red Carpet Brow Secret is Benefit's Brow Zings Pro Palette," 3 Sep. 2019 The unsuspecting mammals also accidentally ingest oocysts when grooming or hunting down other food sources. — Meilan Solly, Smithsonian, "Parasite Spread by House Cats Is Killing California’s Sea Otters," 30 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'groom.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.