1
2
a
: 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
groomed; grooming; grooms
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 person
spent hours grooming the lawn
3
a
: to make (someone) ready for a specific objective : prepare
was being groomed as a presidential candidate
b
: to build a trusting relationship with (a minor) in order to exploit them especially for nonconsensual sexual activity
: to groom oneself
grooming in front of the mirror
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
Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 1 Jan. 2026
The groom will then arrive with his friends and family from the baraat processional, likely along with a drummer.
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 1 Jan. 2026
FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Maxwell is now serving a 20-year prison sentence for recruiting and grooming girls for Epstein to abuse and, in at least one instance, participating in the abuse herself.
—Ben Wieder, Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for groom
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
According to Harper’s Bazaar, Diana officiated the wedding as Leif crawled around and played at the altar, stealing the show from the groom and pregnant bride.
—Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 1 Jan. 2026
The groom will then arrive with his friends and family from the baraat processional, likely along with a drummer.
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 1 Jan. 2026
Verb
Continue reading … STAR SUED – Musician alleges Will Smith engaged in 'grooming' behavior after hotel room encounter.
—FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Maxwell is now serving a 20-year prison sentence for recruiting and grooming girls for Epstein to abuse and, in at least one instance, participating in the abuse herself.
—Ben Wieder, Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for groom
Cite this Entry
“Groom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/groom. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
1
a
archaic
: a male servant
b
: a person in charge of horses
2
groom
2 of 2 verb1
: to clean and keep up the appearance of (as the coat of a horse or dog)
2
: to make neat, attractive, or acceptable
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