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
Examples of net in a Sentence
Noun (1)
the basketball didn't go into the basket—it just hit the net
drug runners caught in an elaborate net set by the police
caught in a net of palace intrigues
Verb (1)
the kite was stubbornly netted in the branches of the willow tree
a police sting that netted drug dealers from all parts of the city
Adjective
The net result of the new bridge will be fewer traffic jams.
Verb (2)
the entrepreneur netted millions on that deal
Noun (2)
his net for the year was about 60% of his total income
the net of the report on race relations is that things are better but not good enough
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Russo, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
And, concerning for people who are getting left behind, the US government began pushing safety-net programs in the opposite direction, reducing benefits and increasing hurdles to access support.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, down the first-base line MLB Network’s commentators are on the air, on a portable stage with netting behind them just in case a batting practice drive heads in their direction.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 29 Oct. 2025
Michael Russo, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
But it was partially offset by the timing of distributor purchases of the drug and lower net pricing in the country, mainly due to changes to Medicare prescription drug plans.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for net
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.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Less than a minute later, fourth-liner Tyler Pitlick took an elbowing penalty 100 feet from his net.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
And, concerning for people who are getting left behind, the US government began pushing safety-net programs in the opposite direction, reducing benefits and increasing hurdles to access support.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
There’s no time like the present to copy Reese Witherspoon’s loungewear look — Spanx is running a bundle deal that nets you two items for 15 percent off.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, down the first-base line MLB Network’s commentators are on the air, on a portable stage with netting behind them just in case a batting practice drive heads in their direction.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Kirill Kaprizov, who showed his frustration after Anthony Mantha’s empty-net goal by shooting the puck against the boards and then removing his number from the board that listed media requests following the game, scored the lone goal for Minnesota.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
But it was partially offset by the timing of distributor purchases of the drug and lower net pricing in the country, mainly due to changes to Medicare prescription drug plans.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for net
Cite this Entry
“Net.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/net. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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