Definition of groovenext
1
as in routine
an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity I can't get into the groove on Monday morning without a cup of coffee

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in place
a situation or activity for which a person or thing is best suited after years of bouncing from job to job, she discovered that her natural groove was social work

Synonyms & Similar Words

groove

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to file
to mark with or as if with a line or groove if you groove that piece of wood, we should be able to fit this smaller board into it

Synonyms & Similar Words

2

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of groove
Noun
But its status as a cultural phenomenon was not only a function of its warm groove, but its instantly iconic music video directed by Jonathan Glazer, who’d go on to direct films including Sexy Beast and The Zone of Interest. Katie Bain, Billboard, 27 Aug. 2026 Sandollar found its groove with cult and not-cult classics — Parton helped Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Father of the Bride, and Kicking and Screaming get made. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
These fans of the Grateful Dead gather, groove and keep the good vibes going even though there are no original band members on tour. Brittney Melton, NPR, 6 Aug. 2026 Speirs began moving and grooving between innings, choreographing dances for each player’s walk-up song. Abigail Dollins, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for groove
Recent Examples of Synonyms for groove
Noun
  • Teams cross multiple time zones, adjust practice and sleep schedules and play at a neutral site far from their normal routines.
    Giovanni Malloy, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • As if dating weren’t already enough of a gamble, a new trend has some men skipping their usual hygiene routines before meeting a prospective partner.
    Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Big sophomore Charlie Beniot, 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, came on in his place and performed admirably.
    Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The Cubs and Brewers square off seven times in that span, with Monday’s victory putting the North Siders 7 games back of first-place Milwaukee.
    Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Hackett's suit, filed by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, seeks compensatory and punitive damages and names Arellano in his individual capacity as the sole defendant.
    Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The Buckeye Institute – along with a number of other conservative groups that have filed supportive briefs – want the justices to also revisit a 2005 decision that affirmed a broad interpretation of Congress’s power to regulate interstate commerce.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The collection of minor hits and near-misses from the 1960s blended rough edges and euphoric hooks.
    Steve Appleford, SPIN, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Randolph, a four-year varsity player, emerged last season as a disruptive force by blending elite size with mobility, quickness and athleticism.
    Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • His daily grind — and conventional wardrobe — express his midlife rut and marital stagnation.
    Fawnia Soo Hoo, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Holly Marie Combs is through with the Hollywood grind — at least for now.
    Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The fragrances will launch direct-to-consumer, as well as at niche fragrance retailers Scent Bar, Stéle and The Conservatory NYC.
    Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Isn’t a child’s struggle to feel accepted a genuinely universal one, even as it’s also protected and niche?
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Its uniquely wide view will also help scientists decode the intricacies of dark matter and dark energy while perhaps clearing up some contradictions about our universe that scientists have been scratching their heads over for decades.
    Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Culturally, college football scratches the human itch for tribalism, which America’s ethos of individualism fortunately discourages.
    George F. Will, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Turns out America’s enthusiasm for itself has gone into a bit of a rut—more than 80% of Americans felt proud in 2010, but only 53% feel that way today.
    Jim Edwards, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The rut is a great time to kill a buck, but the early season is the best time to kill a specific buck.
    Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Groove.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/groove. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on groove

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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