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
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026
Carolina generated a ton of shots from around the Vegas net and scored all four of its goals from right in front.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 10 June 2026
Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 10 June 2026
Baron netted three goals during that contest, and his head coach, fifth-year man Aaron Peterson, is understandably bullish on his player’s future.
—Tris Wykes, Twin Cities, 9 June 2026
Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 June 2026
The next time Zverev hit a wrap-around-the-net-post return, Cobolli couldn’t handle it and Zverev won the point.
—Andrew Dampf, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for net
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Noun
Children might get a teepee tent and toys, while older kids might have cards, board games, boogie boards, or a volleyball net.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026
Carolina generated a ton of shots from around the Vegas net and scored all four of its goals from right in front.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 10 June 2026
Verb
The trade netted the White Sox catcher Kyle Teel, right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez and infielder Chase Meidroth, in addition to Montgomery.
—Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 10 June 2026
Baron netted three goals during that contest, and his head coach, fifth-year man Aaron Peterson, is understandably bullish on his player’s future.
—Tris Wykes, Twin Cities, 9 June 2026
Adjective
On Friday, tech stocks led a market bloodbath after the Labor Department’s monthly jobs report showed employers added a net 172,000 jobs last month, nearly double Wall Street forecasts.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 June 2026
The next time Zverev hit a wrap-around-the-net-post return, Cobolli couldn’t handle it and Zverev won the point.
—Andrew Dampf, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 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 13 Jun. 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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