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
Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
In overtime of Game 7 of San Jose’s first-round series with the Vegas Golden Knights, Goodrow took a pass from Erik Karlsson inside the blue line, skated toward the Vegas net, and scored around goalie Marc-Andre Fleury to give the Sharks a series-clinching 5-4 win.
—Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
Bruna Horvath, NBC News, 9 Nov. 2024
How that nets out as people enter the voting booth is the stuff political scientists and campaign strategists alike will study for years ahead.
—Neil Irwin, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024
Quartz Bot, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
Netflix earned over $9.8 billion in revenue worldwide from its 282 million subscribers in July-September this year, with net profit reaching $2.4 billion.
—Chris Morris, Fortune Europe, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for net 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Other income, net, increased by $10 million, while other net periodic benefit costs decreased by $101 million.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
In overtime of Game 7 of San Jose’s first-round series with the Vegas Golden Knights, Goodrow took a pass from Erik Karlsson inside the blue line, skated toward the Vegas net, and scored around goalie Marc-Andre Fleury to give the Sharks a series-clinching 5-4 win.
—Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
Verb
According to research done by the blockchain analytics platform Chainalysis, up to 11 different accounts could be associated with the trader, potentially netting him $83.5 million or more from betting.
—Bruna Horvath, NBC News, 9 Nov. 2024
How that nets out as people enter the voting booth is the stuff political scientists and campaign strategists alike will study for years ahead.
—Neil Irwin, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
The company reported a net income of $125,207 for the quarter, compared to a net loss of $183,848 in the previous year.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
Netflix earned over $9.8 billion in revenue worldwide from its 282 million subscribers in July-September this year, with net profit reaching $2.4 billion.
—Chris Morris, Fortune Europe, 5 Nov. 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 28 Nov. 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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