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
Arpon Basu, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024
His outside shot has been more effective, too, a career-high 42.9% of Siakam’s threes have gone through the net this year.
—Tony East, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
Eduardo A. Encina, Orlando Sentinel, 20 Dec. 2024
Analysts estimate that the Assad regime netted billions each year from its trade.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Elon Musk, whose wealth and influence have skyrocketed since President-elect Donald Trump’s victory, is the first person on Earth to reach $400 billion in net worth, Jessica Guynn reports.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for net 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Noun
No lateral passes to your defence partner, no bringing the puck back towards your net, only north.
—Arpon Basu, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024
His outside shot has been more effective, too, a career-high 42.9% of Siakam’s threes have gone through the net this year.
—Tony East, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
Verb
Moser has been a major addition to the Lightning’s blue line after being acquired over the summer in the trade that sent defenseman Mikhail Sergachev to Utah and also netted rookie forward Conor Geekie, 20.
—Eduardo A. Encina, Orlando Sentinel, 20 Dec. 2024
Analysts estimate that the Assad regime netted billions each year from its trade.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
Musk’s net worth jumped by $58 billion Wednesday after Forbes confirmed that SpaceX and its investors agreed to buy back insiders’ shares in a deal valuing the rocket company at $350 billion, first reported by Bloomberg.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Elon Musk, whose wealth and influence have skyrocketed since President-elect Donald Trump’s victory, is the first person on Earth to reach $400 billion in net worth, Jessica Guynn reports.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
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 26 Dec. 2024.
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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