1
a
b
: a filthy or soiling substance (such as mud, dust, or grime)
c
archaic
: something worthless
d
: a contemptible person
treated me like dirt
2
: loose or packed soil or sand : earth
a mound of dirt
a dirt road
3
a
: an abject or filthy state : squalor
living in dirt
b
: corruption, chicanery
vowed to clean up the dirt in the city government
c
: licentiousness of language or theme
d
: scandalous or malicious gossip
spreading dirt about his ex-wife
e
: embarrassing or incriminating information
trying to dig up dirt on her political rivals
Examples of dirt in a Sentence
Pack dirt loosely around the base of the plant.
You've got some dirt on your face.
Their shoes were covered with dirt.
No amount of cleaning will get rid of all this dirt.
Recent Examples on the Web
Unexpected grave goods The dirt block went through CT scans and X-rays at the University of Bradford before being sent to the York Archaeological Trust for a deeper analysis in November.
—
Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 24 May 2025
Every day, as my colleague Thomas Curwen described it a few years ago, the big rigs take a shortcut through a small Wilmington neighborhood, sending out dirt and noise and diesel fumes.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025
Photos show archaeologists carefully excavating the rectangular work, with parts of it covered under layers of dirt.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025
Shoe bag: Slip your sneakers or sandals inside to protect your clean clothes from dirt.
—Alesandra Dubin, Southern Living, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dirt
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 24 May 2025
Every day, as my colleague Thomas Curwen described it a few years ago, the big rigs take a shortcut through a small Wilmington neighborhood, sending out dirt and noise and diesel fumes.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025
Photos show archaeologists carefully excavating the rectangular work, with parts of it covered under layers of dirt.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025
Shoe bag: Slip your sneakers or sandals inside to protect your clean clothes from dirt.
—Alesandra Dubin, Southern Living, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dirt
Cite this Entry
“Dirt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dirt. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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