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
Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
According to Emily Post, the groom’s parents traditionally host the rehearsal dinner, which includes the wedding party, young wedding party participants’ parents, the officiant and his or her spouse and the couple’s close relatives.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2026
Mike Kaye
april 22, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2026
Among the models Pommier helped groom from her South Beach headquarters were Christy Turlington, Charlize Theron and Paula Barbieri.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for groom
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Noun
Another photo captures the soon-to-be bride and groom crouching down on the sand with their two pet dogs.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
According to Emily Post, the groom’s parents traditionally host the rehearsal dinner, which includes the wedding party, young wedding party participants’ parents, the officiant and his or her spouse and the couple’s close relatives.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
He could also be groomed to replace Wallace in the lineup if Wallace struggles in his third season as a starter.
—Mike Kaye
april 22, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2026
Among the models Pommier helped groom from her South Beach headquarters were Christy Turlington, Charlize Theron and Paula Barbieri.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for groom
Cite this Entry
“Groom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/groom. Accessed 24 Apr. 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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