1
a
: an open-meshed fabric twisted, knotted, or woven together at regular intervals
b
: something made of net: such as
(1)
: a device for catching fish, birds, or insects
(2)
: a fabric barricade (see barricade entry 2 sense 1a) which divides a court in half (as in tennis or volleyball) and over which a ball or shuttlecock must be hit to be in play
(3)
: the fabric that encloses the sides and back of the goal (see goal sense 2a) in various games (such as soccer or hockey)
shot the puck into the net
2
: an entrapping device or situation
caught in the net of suspicious circumstances
cannot escape the net of circumstances in which he is caught—
W. P. Webb
W. P. Webb3
: something resembling a net in reticulation (as of lines, fibers, or figures)
the net of global communication
… the systemic net of restrictions …—John Edgar Wideman
John Edgar Wideman4
a
: a group of communications stations operating under unified control
Army radio net
b
5
or less commonly Net
: internet
world news on the Net
netted; netting
1
: to cover or enclose with or as if with a net
2
: to catch in or as if in a net
3
: to cover with or as if with a network
4
a
: to hit (a ball) into the net for the loss of a point in a racket game
b
: to hit (a ball or puck) into the goal for a score (as in hockey or soccer)
also
: to score (a point or goal) by netting a ball or puck
netter
noun
Synonyms
Examples of net in a Sentence
Adjective
The net result of the new bridge will be fewer traffic jams.
Recent Examples on the WebBen Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 23 Nov. 2023
Mulcahy’s first free throw rolled out, but the second nestled into the net, and we were headed to overtime at 85-85.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Nov. 2023
In 2018, the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District began building a net along the perimeter of the 1.7 mile long bridge.
—Kara Nelson, CNN, 19 Nov. 2023
Netz estimates his on-paper net worth to be $100 million.
—Jane Thier, Fortune, 19 Nov. 2023
The group’s net after tax profits dropped a hefty 29% to JPY200 billion ($1.32 billion).
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 9 Nov. 2023
Since the project started and nets have been added the average number of suicides on the bridge has decreased.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 10 Nov. 2023
For the most recent quarter, the company’s fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023, Disney+ gained a net of nearly 4 million overall to reach 150.2 million.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 8 Nov. 2023
The nets are nearly invisible from a distance, blending into the steelwork.
—John Branch Jim Wilson, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2023
Bill Bowden, arkansasonline.com, 23 Nov. 2023
In total, the couple sent at least $1.36 million netted from the fraud and robberies back to Romania.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Nov. 2023
For instance, a kid with $2,500 in the account would net $81 in a year vs. only $63 with Buy Side from WSJ’s best overall pick, Capital One’s Kids Savings account.
—Kerri Anne Renzulli, wsj.com, 22 Nov. 2023
The second — which included the Johnston drop — netted 15 yards, nine of which came on two Green Bay penalties.
—Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2023
The woman who invented honey blonde hair on honey brown skin has earned nine Grammy Awards and dozens more nominations, netted Academy Awards nods for music and acting, and sold 50 million units in music sales.
—Zandria Robinson, Glamour, 1 Nov. 2023
The auction house further announced that a Roman sardonyx cameo portrait of Emperor Claudius netted $2,107,000.
—David Chiu, Peoplemag, 18 Oct. 2023
These lineups have netted $145, so that leaves me $20 in the hole with an average score of 144.24 points through nine weeks.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2023
Hence, what nets down on $1 million credit in reality looks more like $820,000 to $30,000 to the bottom line.
—Angus Finney, Variety, 30 Oct. 2023
Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 22 Nov. 2023
The company also earned $916 million in net income, compared to a $20.6 million loss for the same quarter last year.
—Lionel Lim, Fortune, 22 Nov. 2023
Thyssenkrupp reported net loss for the fourth quarter and its fiscal year on a tougher market that included higher costs and lower earnings at Steel Europe.
—David Sachs, WSJ, 22 Nov. 2023
For many Americans, being happy isn't only about achieving a particular net worth, Empower's research found.
—Elizabeth Napolitano, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2023
And firms can continue to make claims about reducing emissions and even going net zero with the luxury of knowing that offsets can fill any holes in their plans.
—Jessica F. Green, Foreign Affairs, 20 Nov. 2023
Walmart International’s net sales jumped 10.8% to $28 billion.
—arkansasonline.com, 17 Nov. 2023
Furthermore, once control is transferred to the purpose trust and benefits are directed towards the non-profit, the company's value and net profits are exempt from further taxation.
—Matthew Erskine, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
Analysts had expected a full-year net profit of A$7.21 billion, according to FactSet’s consensus estimate.
—Alice Uribe, WSJ, 12 Nov. 2023
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Noun
With his back to the basket, the ball fell through the net to roars from the stunned crowd.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 23 Nov. 2023
Mulcahy’s first free throw rolled out, but the second nestled into the net, and we were headed to overtime at 85-85.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Nov. 2023
In 2018, the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District began building a net along the perimeter of the 1.7 mile long bridge.
—Kara Nelson, CNN, 19 Nov. 2023
Netz estimates his on-paper net worth to be $100 million.
—Jane Thier, Fortune, 19 Nov. 2023
The group’s net after tax profits dropped a hefty 29% to JPY200 billion ($1.32 billion).
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 9 Nov. 2023
Since the project started and nets have been added the average number of suicides on the bridge has decreased.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 10 Nov. 2023
For the most recent quarter, the company’s fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023, Disney+ gained a net of nearly 4 million overall to reach 150.2 million.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 8 Nov. 2023
The nets are nearly invisible from a distance, blending into the steelwork.
—John Branch Jim Wilson, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2023
Verb
At the time, the library received 1 mill from residents inside the city of Jonesboro, netting about $3 million a year, and 1 mill from county residents outside the city limits, netting about $1 million annually, according to the Jonesboro Sun.
—Bill Bowden, arkansasonline.com, 23 Nov. 2023
In total, the couple sent at least $1.36 million netted from the fraud and robberies back to Romania.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Nov. 2023
For instance, a kid with $2,500 in the account would net $81 in a year vs. only $63 with Buy Side from WSJ’s best overall pick, Capital One’s Kids Savings account.
—Kerri Anne Renzulli, wsj.com, 22 Nov. 2023
The second — which included the Johnston drop — netted 15 yards, nine of which came on two Green Bay penalties.
—Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2023
The woman who invented honey blonde hair on honey brown skin has earned nine Grammy Awards and dozens more nominations, netted Academy Awards nods for music and acting, and sold 50 million units in music sales.
—Zandria Robinson, Glamour, 1 Nov. 2023
The auction house further announced that a Roman sardonyx cameo portrait of Emperor Claudius netted $2,107,000.
—David Chiu, Peoplemag, 18 Oct. 2023
These lineups have netted $145, so that leaves me $20 in the hole with an average score of 144.24 points through nine weeks.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2023
Hence, what nets down on $1 million credit in reality looks more like $820,000 to $30,000 to the bottom line.
—Angus Finney, Variety, 30 Oct. 2023
Adjective
Combs, whose net worth is estimated at $1 billion, has faced legal action or settlement payouts more than four dozen times over a career spanning four decades as a rapper, producer and mogul, according to court documents reviewed by NBC News.
—Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 22 Nov. 2023
The company also earned $916 million in net income, compared to a $20.6 million loss for the same quarter last year.
—Lionel Lim, Fortune, 22 Nov. 2023
Thyssenkrupp reported net loss for the fourth quarter and its fiscal year on a tougher market that included higher costs and lower earnings at Steel Europe.
—David Sachs, WSJ, 22 Nov. 2023
For many Americans, being happy isn't only about achieving a particular net worth, Empower's research found.
—Elizabeth Napolitano, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2023
And firms can continue to make claims about reducing emissions and even going net zero with the luxury of knowing that offsets can fill any holes in their plans.
—Jessica F. Green, Foreign Affairs, 20 Nov. 2023
Walmart International’s net sales jumped 10.8% to $28 billion.
—arkansasonline.com, 17 Nov. 2023
Furthermore, once control is transferred to the purpose trust and benefits are directed towards the non-profit, the company's value and net profits are exempt from further taxation.
—Matthew Erskine, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
Analysts had expected a full-year net profit of A$7.21 billion, according to FactSet’s consensus estimate.
—Alice Uribe, WSJ, 12 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'net.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1) and Verb (1)
Middle English nett, from Old English; akin to Old High German nezzi net
Adjective
Middle English, clean, pure, from Anglo-French — more at neat entry 1
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb (1)
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (2)
1758, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun (2)
circa 1904, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of net was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing net
Dictionary Entries Near net
Cite this Entry
“Net.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/net. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
net
1 of 5 noun1
: a fabric made of threads, cords, ropes, or wires that weave in and out with much open space
2
: something made of net: as
a
: a device for catching fish, birds, or insects
b
: a fabric barricade which divides a court in half (as in tennis or badminton)
c
: the fabric that encloses the sides and back of the goal (as in hockey or soccer)
3
: something that traps like a net
a net of thorns
4
: a network of lines, fibers, or figures
5
often capitalized
: internet
netted
adjective
ˈnet-əd
net
2 of 5 verb
netted; netting
1
: to cover with or as if with a net
2
: to catch in or as if in a net
net fish
3
: to hit the ball into the net in a racket game
netter
noun
net
3 of 5 adjective
: free from all charges or deductions
net profit
net weight
net
4 of 5 verb
netted; netting
: to gain or produce as profit
netted five dollars on the sale
net
5 of 5 noun
: a net amount, profit, weight, or price
Medical Definition
Legal Definition
net
adjective
: remaining after deduction of all charges, outlay, or loss
the net proceeds
compare gross
Etymology
Adjective
Anglo-French, clean, pure, from Latin nitidus bright, neat, from nitēre to shine
More from Merriam-Webster on net
Nglish: Translation of net for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of net for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about net
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