trim

1 of 4

verb

trimmed; trimming

transitive verb

1
a
: to remove by or as if by cutting
trimmed thousands from federal payrollsGrit
b
: to make trim and neat especially by cutting or clipping
trim the hedges
c
: to free of excess or extraneous matter by or as if by cutting
trim a budget
trim down the inventory
2
: to embellish with or as if with ribbons, lace, or ornaments
trim the Christmas tree
the coat was trimmed with fur
3
a
: to administer a beating to : thrash
b
: defeat
trimmed me at chess
4
a(1)
: to cause (a ship) to assume a desirable position in the water by arrangement of ballast, cargo, or passengers
(2)
: to adjust (something, such as an airplane or submarine) for horizontal movement or for motion upward or downward
b
: to adjust (something, such as cargo or a sail) to a desired position

intransitive verb

1
a
: to maintain neutrality between opposing parties or to favor each equally
b
: to change one's views for reasons of expediency
2
: to assume or cause a boat to assume a desired position in the water
a boat that trims badly

trim

2 of 4

adjective

trimmer; trimmest
1
: exhibiting neatness, good order, or compactness of line or structure
a trim beard
trim lawns
… a trim, well-built beach house not far from a spanking new superhighway.The Saturday Review
2
: slim and physically fit
kept himself trim by biking every day
His lithe student, trim in a tennis dress, watched while holding her racquet on her shoulder.E. L. Doctorow
3
: ready for service or use
4
obsolete : excellent, fine
trimly adverb
trimness noun

trim

3 of 4

adverb

: in a trim manner : trimly
used chiefly in combination
the trim-cut forest vistasW. M. Thackeray

trim

4 of 4

noun

1
: a haircut that neatens a previous haircut
2
a
: material used for ornament or trimming
b
: the material (such as wood, stone, or vinyl) in the finish of a building especially around openings
But now, marble is back in style with a vengeance, in demand for building facades, interior trim and finishes.David Roberts
In home building, carpenters build the house framework, frame the roof and interior partitions, and install doors, windows, flooring, cabinets, wood paneling, and molding and trim.Occupational Outlook Handbook
c
: the interior furnishings of an automobile
d
: one's clothing or appearance
3
: suitable or excellent condition
tries to keep in trim
4
a
: the position of a ship or boat especially with reference to the horizontal
also : the difference between the draft of a ship forward and that aft
b
: the relation between the plane of a sail and the direction of the ship
c
: the buoyancy status of a submarine
d
: the attitude of a lighter-than-air craft relative to a fore-and-aft horizontal plane
e
: the attitude with respect to wind axes at which an airplane will continue in level flight with free controls
5
: something that is trimmed off or cut out
Phrases
trim one's sails
: to adjust oneself or one's actions to prevailing conditions
compromise or trim your sails to suit the political windsPhilip Johnston

Examples of trim in a Sentence

Verb The hedges need to be trimmed. They are looking for ways to trim the budget. We trimmed the Christmas tree. a pillow trimmed in lace Adjective She has a trim figure. He keeps fit and trim by biking. Noun a skirt with lace trim the doctor declared her to be in good trim for the race See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
However, on Friday, the Federal Bureau of Prisons' online inmate search system indicated that the Chrisley family patriarch will now be released nearly two years before his 12-year sentence was originally intended to finish, while Julie's seven-year sentence was trimmed by 14 months. Jp Mangalindan, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2023 Clean off the outside of the container, trim protruding roots, then place the plant back in your home. Marianne Willburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2023 Pinch edges of dough together, trimming excess to 1 inch, and crimp. Torie Cox, Country Living, 8 Sep. 2023 The Performance trim upgrades to 20-inchers with Continental SportContact 6 summer rubber, but folks hunting for a middle ground can swap out the lesser trims' 19s for optional 20s with Continental PremiumContact 6 summer tires. Andrew Krok, Car and Driver, 6 Sep. 2023 Costway 7-Foot Snow Flocked Christmas Tree Now 63 percent off ahead of the holidays, this 7-footer is trimmed with artificial pine cones, red berries, and glittery flocking. Stephanie Osmanski, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2023 The price increases have come amid still-hot weather in Texas, the nation’s top consumer of natural gas on a state-by-state basis, which has boosted cooling demand and helped to trim an inventory surplus to less than 9% above normal. WSJ, 1 Sep. 2023 Americans are continuing to trim discretionary spending or trading down to off-price and discount retailers. Jaclyn Peiser, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2023 The Chicago Bears waived offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood on Sunday, marking the second straight year that the former first-round draft pick from Alabama has been released as NFL teams trimmed their preseason rosters to the regular-season limit. Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 27 Aug. 2023
Adjective
That trim, plus the gray seats and black dash, comprise an interior more austere than Henry Hyde's shoes. John Phillips, Car and Driver, 6 Sep. 2023 The only noticeable flaw in her trim and tidy presentability was a slight deformity. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2023 His face is tanned and sinewy, with a trim white beard. Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, 31 July 2023 The present headquarters of the Andy Warhol Factory are, despite the raffish image, surprisingly elegant and ordered: typewriters click, business machines whir, telephones ring and are answered by trim and efficient secretaries. Stephen Birmingham, Town & Country, 10 Aug. 2023 Lisa selected windows with a black finish and painted the trim dark gray to frame the scenery. Laura Fenton, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023 Chrysler dealers will inspect and replace the trim pieces, if necessary, at no cost to the owner. Kate Perez, USA TODAY, 14 Aug. 2023 As Eddie worked to revamp his yard sale finds, a talented team of professionals worked to turn the room into a crisp, clean canvas with Benjamin Moore paint for the walls, trim, and ceiling and white Dixie Home carpet for the floor. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2023 Black appears on the doors, trim, and picture frames to inject a modern edge to the soft palette. Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
Adverb
Sturdy but comfortable, this 1901 shirt is trim-tailored and comes in two colors, Grey Magnet Oxford and Blue White Bengal Stripe. Alicia Kortendick, al, 15 Apr. 2020 Eliminating the resources that are underutilized, making the budget as trim as possible. Alec Johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2018
Noun
Williams, whose opening pre-match outfit for the US Open went viral last week, wore a black Lacoste jumpsuit with white trim and see-through details. Mario Abad, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2023 The blanket is made from a viscose from bamboo and cotton blend with 100% cotton trim. Kathleen Felton, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2023 Front-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive can be added to any trim, and both setups utilize a CVT. Drew Dorian, Car and Driver, 8 Sep. 2023 There are 20 different steps and over 17 meters of trim for each bag. Isiah Magsino, Town & Country, 25 Aug. 2023 The 380 will be offered with an exclusive paint color, black 19-inch wheels from the Golf R 20th Anniversary Edition, and standard adaptive dampers on all trims. Caleb Miller, Car and Driver, 30 Aug. 2023 From beautiful potted plants to colored trim on the porch and even decorative pillows, adding in some color will transform your wraparound porch. Taylor Augustin, House Beautiful, 30 Aug. 2023 Cutler recommends throw pillows that feature intricate details, like a unique trim or beading (think of them almost like jewelry for your sofa, says Cutler). Michelle Rostamian, Peoplemag, 29 Aug. 2023 On the Turbo, the sound of the twin-turbo V-8 then fills the cabin, a delightful but refined roar that is slightly boosted in amplitude by the car’s sound system, still provided by Burmester on higher trims. Tim Stevens, Robb Report, 25 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trim.' 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

Verb

probably from Middle English *trimmen to prepare, put in order, from Old English trymian, trymman to strengthen, arrange, from trum strong, firm; probably akin to Old English trēo tree, wood — more at tree entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1521, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Adjective

circa 1521, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1529, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1593, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of trim was circa 1521

Dictionary Entries Near trim

Cite this Entry

“Trim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trim. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

trim

1 of 4 verb
trimmed; trimming
1
: to decorate with ribbons, lace, or ornaments : adorn
trim a Christmas tree
a jacket trimmed with leather
2
: to defeat in a game or contest
3
a
: to make trim and neat especially by cutting or clipping
trim the bushes
trimmed her hair
b
: to free of excess or unnecessary matter by or as if by cutting
trim a steak
trim a budget
4
: to cause (as a ship) to take the right position in the water by balancing the load carried
5
: to adjust (as an airplane or submarine) for horizontal movement or for motion upward or downward
6
: to adjust (as a sail) to a desired position
trimmer noun

trim

2 of 4 adjective
trimmer; trimmest
1
: ready for service or use
2
: slim and physically fit
keeps trim by jogging
3
: neat, orderly, and compact in line or structure
a trim house
trimly adverb
trimness noun

trim

3 of 4 adverb
: in a trim manner : trimly

trim

4 of 4 noun
1
: good or healthy condition : fitness
2
a
: material used for ornament or trimming
b
: the woodwork in the finish of a building especially around doors and windows
3
a
: the position of a ship or boat especially with reference to the horizontal
b
: the relation between the plane of a sail and the direction of the ship
c
: the position of an airplane at which it will continue in level flight with no adjustments to the controls
4
: something that is trimmed off or cut out
5
: a haircut that neatens a previous haircut

Geographical Definition

Trim

geographical name

town in eastern Ireland area population 8268

Note: Trim is the capital of County Meath.

More from Merriam-Webster on trim

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