1
a
: an open-meshed fabric twisted, knotted, or woven together at regular intervals
b
: something made of net: such as
(1)
: a device for catching fish, birds, or insects
(2)
: a fabric barricade (see barricade entry 2 sense 1a) which divides a court in half (as in tennis or volleyball) and over which a ball or shuttlecock must be hit to be in play
(3)
: the fabric that encloses the sides and back of the goal (see goal sense 2a) in various games (such as soccer or hockey)
shot the puck into the net
2
: an entrapping device or situation
caught in the net of suspicious circumstances
cannot escape the net of circumstances in which he is caught—
W. P. Webb
W. P. Webb3
: something resembling a net in reticulation (as of lines, fibers, or figures)
the net of global communication
… the systemic net of restrictions …—John Edgar Wideman
John Edgar Wideman4
a
: a group of communications stations operating under unified control
Army radio net
b
5
or less commonly Net
: internet
world news on the Net
netted; netting
1
: to cover or enclose with or as if with a net
2
: to catch in or as if in a net
3
: to cover with or as if with a network
4
a
: to hit (a ball) into the net for the loss of a point in a racket game
b
: to hit (a ball or puck) into the goal for a score (as in hockey or soccer)
also
: to score (a point or goal) by netting a ball or puck
netter
noun
Synonyms
Examples of net in a Sentence
Noun (1)
the basketball didn't go into the basket—it just hit the net
drug runners caught in an elaborate net set by the police
caught in a net of palace intrigues
Verb (1)
the kite was stubbornly netted in the branches of the willow tree
a police sting that netted drug dealers from all parts of the city
Adjective
The net result of the new bridge will be fewer traffic jams.
Verb (2)
the entrepreneur netted millions on that deal
Noun (2)
his net for the year was about 60% of his total income
the net of the report on race relations is that things are better but not good enough
Recent Examples on the Web
Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
Over the past decade the Van Eck fund has delivered 6.3% annually, net of its 1.4% expense ratio.
—William Baldwin, Forbes, 1 Feb. 2025
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2025
These agents, people who link international players with American universities, are common, and Hosch has netted several players in such a fashion.
—Brian Robin, Orange County Register, 31 Jan. 2025
Kate Gibson, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2025
Pereira targeted two or three new faces at the beginning of the month and ended up with three, albeit that is expected to be reduced to a net total of two once former captain Mario Lemina completes his move to Galatasaray (the Turkish transfer window is open until February 11).
—Steve Madeley, The Athletic, 4 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for net 
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Noun
Pettersson missed the net during a two-on-one chance in OT.
—Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
Over the past decade the Van Eck fund has delivered 6.3% annually, net of its 1.4% expense ratio.
—William Baldwin, Forbes, 1 Feb. 2025
Verb
The case to part ways: Trading him now would net something in return -- though not nearly as much as the five draft picks that Miami gave Kansas City to acquire him.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2025
These agents, people who link international players with American universities, are common, and Hosch has netted several players in such a fashion.
—Brian Robin, Orange County Register, 31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
The data projects that some counties in California, Florida and Texas will experience net declines of 10% to 40% in their property values by 2055.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2025
Pereira targeted two or three new faces at the beginning of the month and ended up with three, albeit that is expected to be reduced to a net total of two once former captain Mario Lemina completes his move to Galatasaray (the Turkish transfer window is open until February 11).
—Steve Madeley, The Athletic, 4 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for net
Dictionary Entries Near net
Cite this Entry
“Net.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/net. Accessed 7 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
net
1 of 5 noun1
: a fabric made of threads, cords, ropes, or wires that weave in and out with much open space
2
: something made of net: as
a
: a device for catching fish, birds, or insects
b
: a fabric barricade which divides a court in half (as in tennis or badminton)
c
: the fabric that encloses the sides and back of the goal (as in hockey or soccer)
3
: something that traps like a net
a net of thorns
4
: a network of lines, fibers, or figures
5
often capitalized
: internet
netted
adjective
ˈnet-əd
net
2 of 5 verb
netted; netting
1
: to cover with or as if with a net
2
: to catch in or as if in a net
net fish
3
: to hit the ball into the net in a racket game
netter
noun
net
3 of 5 adjective
: free from all charges or deductions
net profit
net weight
net
4 of 5 verb
netted; netting
: to gain or produce as profit
netted five dollars on the sale
net
5 of 5 noun
: a net amount, profit, weight, or price
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