1
a
: a continuous often plied strand composed of either natural or man-made fibers or filaments and used in weaving and knitting to form cloth
b
: a similar strand of another material (such as metal, glass, or plastic)
2
[from the idiom spin a yarn "to tell a tale"]
: a narrative of adventures
especially
: a tall tale
a roaring good yarn
Synonyms
Examples of yarn in a Sentence
Noun
The sheep's wool will be spun into yarn.
yarns about ghosts and goblins
a storyteller who spins yarns that will keep any audience riveted
Recent Examples on the Web
Jessica Booth, Parents, 5 Apr. 2024
Joann was founded in 1943 and sells a variety of crafting supplies including fabric by the yard, sewing machines, Cricut machines, yarn, home decor and more.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024
Outerwear in shearling, faux furs, feathers, and yarn provides more than warmth.
—Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 12 Mar. 2024
This sweater is constructed from durable heavyweight yarn with a handmade feel, great for anyone leaning into the cottagecore aesthetic.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 25 Jan. 2024
Visitors of the show can watch alpaca fiber being spun into yarn, woven into rugs and shawls, and shop for alpaca products such as sweaters, socks, and scarves, according to the MOPACA website.
—Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2024
Grab a plastic child-safe tapestry needle and thread it with colored yarn, knotting the end to secure it.
—Nicole Harris, Parents, 20 Mar. 2024
The material of the doormat’s surface is made of 100% polypropylene yarns.
—Lee Alisha Williams, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2024
Ambani’s father, Dhirubhai—the groom-to-be’s grandfather—was a yarn trader who founded Reliance in 1958 as a commodity-trading venture firm.
—Jane Thier, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024
Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 1 Feb. 2024
Secure the planets to yarn with the needle and thread up through remaining eight holes.
—Rachelle Doorley, Parents, 16 Aug. 2023
Eventually, The Kelly Clarkson Show host gave up on her work, balling the needles and yarn together to signify she was done with both the piece and the video.
—Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 7 June 2023
Begin by chaining two loops, then yarn over.
—Mariah Thomas, Good Housekeeping, 31 Oct. 2022
The range: large-scale new media productions, to psychedelic sculptures, to yarn.
—Robin Soslow, Chron, 20 Feb. 2023
The book’s title refers less to yarn than to Ms. Orenstein’s sense during the pandemic that her life is, in a word, unraveling.
—Barbara Spindel, WSJ, 25 Jan. 2023
Gina Owen is a member of the Dallas Yarn Bombers group, an organization that crafts yarn installations around the city.
—Dallas News, 29 June 2022
Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over and pull through three times in the same space to create your bobble.
—Mariah Thomas, Good Housekeeping, 31 Oct. 2022
Noun
But Take Note Aesthetically speaking, our tester wished these didn’t have a rounded toe and wasn’t a big fan of the slight sparkle in the yarn.
—Jessica Booth, Parents, 5 Apr. 2024
Joann was founded in 1943 and sells a variety of crafting supplies including fabric by the yard, sewing machines, Cricut machines, yarn, home decor and more.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024
Outerwear in shearling, faux furs, feathers, and yarn provides more than warmth.
—Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 12 Mar. 2024
This sweater is constructed from durable heavyweight yarn with a handmade feel, great for anyone leaning into the cottagecore aesthetic.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 25 Jan. 2024
Visitors of the show can watch alpaca fiber being spun into yarn, woven into rugs and shawls, and shop for alpaca products such as sweaters, socks, and scarves, according to the MOPACA website.
—Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2024
Grab a plastic child-safe tapestry needle and thread it with colored yarn, knotting the end to secure it.
—Nicole Harris, Parents, 20 Mar. 2024
The material of the doormat’s surface is made of 100% polypropylene yarns.
—Lee Alisha Williams, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2024
Ambani’s father, Dhirubhai—the groom-to-be’s grandfather—was a yarn trader who founded Reliance in 1958 as a commodity-trading venture firm.
—Jane Thier, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024
Verb
Browse novels at Old Town Books, shoes at the Shoe Hive, items from local makers at Shop Made in Virginia and Made in ALX, gifts from Red Barn Mercantile, cocktail accessories at the Hour, and yarn and knitting supplies at Fibre Space, or visit consignment shops such as Twist and Encore.
—Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 1 Feb. 2024
Secure the planets to yarn with the needle and thread up through remaining eight holes.
—Rachelle Doorley, Parents, 16 Aug. 2023
Eventually, The Kelly Clarkson Show host gave up on her work, balling the needles and yarn together to signify she was done with both the piece and the video.
—Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 7 June 2023
Begin by chaining two loops, then yarn over.
—Mariah Thomas, Good Housekeeping, 31 Oct. 2022
The range: large-scale new media productions, to psychedelic sculptures, to yarn.
—Robin Soslow, Chron, 20 Feb. 2023
The book’s title refers less to yarn than to Ms. Orenstein’s sense during the pandemic that her life is, in a word, unraveling.
—Barbara Spindel, WSJ, 25 Jan. 2023
Gina Owen is a member of the Dallas Yarn Bombers group, an organization that crafts yarn installations around the city.
—Dallas News, 29 June 2022
Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over and pull through three times in the same space to create your bobble.
—Mariah Thomas, Good Housekeeping, 31 Oct. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'yarn.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near yarn
Cite this Entry
“Yarn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yarn. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
yarn
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a natural or manufactured fiber (as cotton, wool, or rayon) formed as a continuous strand for use in knitting or weaving
b
: a similar strand of another material (as metal, glass, or plastic)
2
: an interesting or exciting story
yarn
2 of 2 verb
: to tell a yarn
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