groove

1 of 2

noun

1
: a long narrow channel or depression
2
a
: a fixed routine : rut
b
: a situation suited to one's abilities or interests : niche
3
: top form
a great talker when he is in the groove
4
: the middle of the strike zone in baseball where a pitch is most easily hit
a fastball right in the groove
5
: an enjoyable or exciting experience
6
: a pronounced enjoyable rhythm

groove

2 of 2

verb

grooved; grooving

transitive verb

1
a
: to make a groove in
b
: to join by a groove
2
: to perfect by repeated practice
grooved her golf swing
3
: to throw (a pitch) in the groove

intransitive verb

1
: to become joined or fitted by a groove
2
: to form a groove
3
: to enjoy oneself intensely
4
: to interact harmoniously
contemporary minds and rock groove togetherBenjamin DeMott
groover noun

Examples of groove in a Sentence

Noun the grooves on a vinyl record The door slides along a groove in the doorframe. He's a great pitcher when he's in a groove. She hasn't yet found her groove. They've gotten stuck in a groove in their jobs. Verb We grooved to the beat. if you groove that piece of wood, we should be able to fit this smaller board into it See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The rod even has grooves to space out clothes properly. WIRED, 18 Nov. 2023 As the band ratcheted the excitement up with its powerful grooves, the voltage in the air of club asia reached its peak. Billboard Japan, Billboard, 17 Nov. 2023 Its non-slip bottom keeps it securely in place, while the indented design efficiently traps water within its grooves. Samantha Booth, Rolling Stone, 11 Nov. 2023 Plus, the reverse side of the tray works as a cutting board with a juice groove and rubber edges. Bellamy Richardson, wsj.com, 8 Nov. 2023 This team has the chance to find a groove the next month. J. Brady McCollough, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2023 Steve Jordan, a hugely accomplished session drummer whose history with the Stones goes back to Dirty Work, does a lovely job keeping the grooves relaxed and steady on the other tracks, but nobody, truly nobody, plays with the same unhurried shuffle as Watts. Al Shipley, SPIN, 17 Oct. 2023 Plus, the heavy wood has grooves to catch any liquids. Poppy Morgan, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2023 In addition to engraving, boards can be further customized with rubber feet and a juice groove. Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2023
Verb
In addition to its trendy neckline, the dress has an elegant tie-waist and a flowy tiered skirt that’s practically made for moving and grooving on a dancefloor. Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 22 Oct. 2023 For much of the performance, Mitchell sat in the second row of the auditorium, grooving to her own compositions (the seven-member Broadway band, conducted by Liam Robinson, provided accompaniment). Peter Marks, Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2023 But that night’s set was wildly twisted hip-hop, with the musicians playing percussion and grooving in the back of the stage. Jem Aswad, Variety, 24 July 2023 In addition to the faces and animals, grooves in one of the rocks were potentially used by Indigenous people in the area as a whetstone to sharpen their arrows. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 25 Oct. 2023 There’s even a small camper trailer constructed from the company’s signature grooved aluminum. Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 13 Sep. 2023 Remy then busted quite a move, which his mom encouraged by grooving along with him. Alexis Jones, Peoplemag, 19 Aug. 2023 Rather, there seems to be a sense that true movie fans can groove on both frequencies. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2023 Find vintage looks from a dozen vendors, bring your old clothes to participate in a clothing swap, learn about sustainable fashion and how to repair worn out clothes, or just get a tarot reading while grooving to a DJ. Chris Richards, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2023 See More

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

Noun

Middle English grove pit, cave, from Middle Dutch groeve; akin to Old High German gruoba pit, cave, Old English grafan to dig — more at grave entry 5

First Known Use

Noun

1659, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1686, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of groove was in 1659

Dictionary Entries Near groove

Cite this Entry

“Groove.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/groove. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

groove

1 of 2 noun
1
: a long narrow channel made in a surface
2
: a fixed routine : rut
3
: top form

groove

2 of 2 verb
grooved; grooving
1
a
: to form a groove in
b
: to become grooved
2
: to enjoy very much

Medical Definition

groove

noun
: a long narrow depression occurring naturally on the surface of an organism or an anatomical part

More from Merriam-Webster on groove

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