network

1 of 2

noun

net·​work ˈnet-ˌwərk How to pronounce network (audio)
1
: a fabric or structure of cords or wires that cross at regular intervals and are knotted or secured at the crossings
… ribbons, lace and embroidery wrought together in a most curious piece of networkJoseph Addison
2
: a system of lines or channels resembling a network
a telephone network
a network of blood vessels
3
a
: an interconnected or interrelated chain, group, or system
a network of hotels
b
: a system of computers and peripherals that are able to communicate with each other
4
a
: a group of radio or television stations linked by wire or radio relay
b
: a radio or television company that produces programs for broadcast over such a network
sold the show to a big network
5
: a usually informally interconnected group or association of persons (such as friends or professional colleagues)
a support network available to single mothers
a network of bird watchers

network

2 of 2

verb

networked; networking; networks

transitive verb

1
: to cover with or as if with a network
a continent … so networked with navigable rivers and canalsLamp
2
chiefly British : to distribute for broadcast on a television network
3
: to join (things, such as computers) in a network

intransitive verb

: to engage in networking
networker noun

Examples of network in a Sentence

Noun He hooked up his computer to the network. The show is getting good ratings for the network. Verb The computers are networked to one main server. She spent the day networking with other executives.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Located at New York’s bustling JFK airport, the new outpost will span 38,000 feet (including a year-round outdoor terrace) and will be the largest lounge in the Delta network. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024 The largest network is Great Hearts, which has twenty-eight thousand students across its schools in Arizona, Texas, and Louisiana, with fifteen thousand more students on its waiting lists. Emma Green, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 Blockchains provide a sensible organizational structure for networks. Chris Dixon, Fortune, 10 Mar. 2024 Initially the flow of information is more or less random, but through training, the information flow between neurons improves as the network adapts to the training data. Amos Zeeberg, WIRED, 10 Mar. 2024 Katie Couric is looking back on her experience at CBS News more than a decade after leaving the network. Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 9 Mar. 2024 Those demands have been harder to meet with networks down. Democrat-Gazette Staff and Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 9 Mar. 2024 The networks will cease to exist as a media distribution company on June 30, when the carriage contracts expire. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 Problems that happen on one network can easily pop up on another. Caroline Mimbs Nyce, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2024
Verb
Data centers house servers, networking equipment and other apparatus, usually in unobtrusive, nondescript buildings. The Arizona Republic, 4 Mar. 2024 Besides, these spaces can be networking goldmines, offering connections with other entrepreneurs and potential clients. Virginia H, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 With her newfound connections, Martin began producing samples of her shoes and wore them to networking events. Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2024 Despite her strong interest, Sandoval hasn’t had the chance to network with anyone from the division. Maya Miller, Sacramento Bee, 22 Feb. 2024 As a member of the House Natural Resources committee and networking with water experts from across the state, I am poised to make substantial contributions to these critical efforts. Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Feb. 2024 Gartner for Human Resources (HR) Gartner for HR is a networking group covering the topics that matter most to human resources executives and advises some of the world’s top HR leaders. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024 Things have been a bit more mixed for networking players such as Cisco. Trefis Team, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 Born in 1840, he was rejected not once but three times from L’École des Beaux-Arts — the place where artists learned from the best of the best, networked themselves into exhibitions, and got their work seen by people with money to support it. Grace Cote, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'network.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1845, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of network was in 1530

Dictionary Entries Near network

Cite this Entry

“Network.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/network. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

network

1 of 2 noun
net·​work ˈnet-ˌwərk How to pronounce network (audio)
1
: a fabric or structure of cords or wires that cross with even spacings
2
: a system of lines or channels resembling a network
3
: a group or system of related or connected parts
especially : a group of connected radio or television stations
4
: a system of computers connected by communications lines

network

2 of 2 verb
1
: to cover with or join into a network
2
: to join together in a network
networked the classroom's computers

Medical Definition

network

noun
net·​work ˈnet-ˌwərk How to pronounce network (audio)
1
: a fabric or structure of cords or wires that cross at regular intervals and are knotted or secured at the crossings
2
: a system of lines or channels resembling a network
a network of veins

More from Merriam-Webster on network

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!