ropes 1 of 2

plural of rope
1
as in mechanics
the characteristic peculiarities and technicalities of something needs a mentor who will show her the ropes of running a catering business

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in brass tacks
the specific practical details of something still learning the ropes of her new job

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ropes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of rope

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 ropes
Noun
Ilinčić’s show borrowed the delicate ropes of octogenarian textile artist Françoise Grossen weaving them into dresses, skirts, bags and belts. — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 24 Sep. 2026 Menace once chose against following his father between the ropes. — Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026 To further test the adhesive’s stickiness, the team attached ropes to the ends of two strips of the tape, stuck the strips together, and used the setup for a tug-of-war between students and faculty. — New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2026 She is born into this sport full of speed and rivalry and, as a woman, has to learn to stand her ground and learn the ropes. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026 Contributor Jenelle Riley headed backstage before opening night to watch the high-stakes performers warm up with poles, hoops, ropes and more. — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026 The rubble and the hole in the ceiling are still on full display, while signs, ropes, and a yellow cone caution people against entering the foyer. — Janay Kingsberry, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2026 Groups of screaming preschoolers pass by us in the park, fists clutched tight onto their walking ropes, chubby hands waving hello or pointing to squirrels scampering in their path. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2026 And weighty ropes—the sort that might be used to moor a boat—are braided with chains and arranged on the ground in the form of a curving river. — Carolina A. Miranda, The New York Review of Books, 5 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ropes
Noun
  • An employee at the Mallard Pointe store in University City told CharlotteFive that its workers will likely be transferred to other locations but couldn’t offer specifics on where.
    — Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The plan warns of hacking, software vulnerabilities and physical threats but offers few specifics about foreign adversaries or whether CISA has enough staff to help local officials.
    — Ali Swenson, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The graphic motif is echoed on the laces, creating a refined visual continuity that ties every element of the sneaker together.
    — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The five field goals ties a single-game GHSA record held by six others, according to the Georgia High School Football Historians Association.
    — Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • For once the story seems less about progress in the nuts and bolts of how the cars weave their way around road hazards.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 June 2026
  • Some of my favorite Bonanza episodes were about the nuts and bolts of the Cartwrights’ cattle business and the kind of money their 2,000-acre spread generated from lumber.
    — Noel Murray, Vulture, 5 June 2026
Verb
  • Though there are plenty of videos and Reddit threads online that show consumers how to remove the LED light, or get someone else to, there is also plenty of commentary from those bothered by removal of the light.
    — Greta Cross, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The route threads through waterfront parks, past the Island Park and Wildlife Sanctuary’s back-channel islands, and along quiet residential streets.
    — John Godfrey Published, Midwest Living, 8 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • While Miller pores over Kaczynski’s famous manifesto, correctly concluding that its linguistic quirks will lead the authorities to him, the upshot of Murray’s study four decades before is that the young Kaczynski shows signs of schizophrenia.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026
  • So these are the scheduling quirks that come with our awesome move to nine games that has sure looked so great here lately.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • This option cinches at the waist, creating a romantic hourglass silhouette and has two spacious pockets.
    — Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026
  • This cinches everything into place, while also tightening down the jaws of the hasps so they can't be opened until the Cordalock is unlocked.
    — Ben Coxworth July 18, New Atlas, 18 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ropes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ropes. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster