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
Arpon Basu, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
The ocean blue dining room is as enchanting as ever, adorned with fish nets and twinkle lights.
—Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
The junior striker has netted 20 goals this season along with eight assists.
—Justin Vigil Zuniga, Daily News, 29 Jan. 2026
Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
By the time Rasmus Dahlin’s empty-net goal hit the back of the net to complete his hat trick and put the finishing touch on Buffalo’s 7-4 lead, there weren’t enough Leafs fans left in the building to boo.
—Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
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.
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Noun
Danault snapped it right back to Kaiden Guhle at the blue line and as a mass of humanity formed in front of the Vegas net, Guhle attempted a shot that quickly deflected back toward the Canadiens’ zone.
—Arpon Basu, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
The ocean blue dining room is as enchanting as ever, adorned with fish nets and twinkle lights.
—Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
Boys hockey Matt Frias and Nate Peck (assist) netted two goals each, while Greg Francis scored a goal and dished two assists as Apponequet/Old Colony (3-9) bested Greater New Bedford 6-3 in the South Coast Conference.
—Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
The junior striker has netted 20 goals this season along with eight assists.
—Justin Vigil Zuniga, Daily News, 29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
At the 14 agencies that Science examined, PhD departures outnumbered new hires in 2025 by a ratio of 11 to one, resulting in a net loss of 4,224 STEM PhDs.
—Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
By the time Rasmus Dahlin’s empty-net goal hit the back of the net to complete his hat trick and put the finishing touch on Buffalo’s 7-4 lead, there weren’t enough Leafs fans left in the building to boo.
—Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for net
Cite this Entry
“Net.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/net. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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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