grime

noun

ˈgrīm 

: soot, smut, or dirt adhering to or embedded in a surface

broadly : accumulated dirtiness and disorder

grime transitive verb

Synonyms

• crud
• dirt
• filth
• gunk
• muck
• smut
• soil

Examples of grime in a Sentence

The windows were coated with grime.

this new product really cuts through grime

Recent Examples on the Web

Natural Cleaning Scrub If your pots and pans are coated with grime or have stubborn stains, try sprinkling spent coffee grounds over the spot and scrubbing the area with a sponge or scouring pad. —Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Mar. 2025

Watch out for slippery roads: The first half-hour of rain is when roads are slickest due to a mix of rain, grime, and oil. —Bay Area Weather Report, The Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2025

Watch out for slippery roads: The initial half-hour of rain is when roads are slickest due to a mixture of rain, grime, and oil. —Southern California Weather Report, Orange County Register, 13 Mar. 2025

For Deodorizing Drain Using slices of lemon is an easy trick for keeping the blades of an in-sink garbage disposal clear of debris and grime and creating a fresh scent in the sink area. —Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle Dutch grime soot, mask; akin to Old English grīma mask

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for grime

• chime
• chyme
• climb
• clime
• crime
• dime
• lime
• lyme
• mime
• prime
• rhyme
• slime

Kids Definition

grime

noun

ˈgrīm 

: dirt rubbed into or covering a surface

also : accumulated dirtiness and disorder

grime verb

griminess

ˈgrī-mē-nəs

noun

grimy

ˈgrī-mē

adjective