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
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
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
Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 8 July 2025
The first dance usually belongs to the bride and groom—but this time, Bianca Wyler's dad stole the show.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2025
Screenshot from a June 19 TikTok video of a mini bernedoodle waiting to be let inside after running home from a grooming appointment.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 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
The groom's mother appears to be aware of this rule, yet continues to push the topic to the bride.
—Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 8 July 2025
The first dance usually belongs to the bride and groom—but this time, Bianca Wyler's dad stole the show.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
Verb
There are some telltale signs of a potential grain allergy, including vomiting, very bad breath, noticeable gas, foul-smelling or watery stool, grooming injuries or scabs, red or flaky skin, hair loss in patches, endless grooming, and excessive scratching and itching.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2025
Screenshot from a June 19 TikTok video of a mini bernedoodle waiting to be let inside after running home from a grooming appointment.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 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 18 Jul. 2025.
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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