1
a
b
: a filthy or soiling substance (such as mud, dust, or grime)
c
archaic
: something worthless
d
: a contemptible person
treated me like dirt
2
: loose or packed soil or sand : earth
a mound of dirt
a dirt road
3
a
: an abject or filthy state : squalor
living in dirt
b
: corruption, chicanery
vowed to clean up the dirt in the city government
c
: licentiousness of language or theme
d
: scandalous or malicious gossip
spreading dirt about his ex-wife
e
: embarrassing or incriminating information
trying to dig up dirt on her political rivals
Examples of dirt in a Sentence
Pack dirt loosely around the base of the plant.
You've got some dirt on your face.
Their shoes were covered with dirt.
No amount of cleaning will get rid of all this dirt.
Recent Examples on the Web
Crew members come up to Landau to discuss the process of making the floor resemble real dirt and mud, whether a test-your-strength carnival machine can be struck in time with the music, as well as drafts of a digital rendering of the sky that will grace the LED screen at the back of the stage.
—
Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
In fact, there’s plenty of dirt and animals trotting around the house — a tangible way of indicating the family’s lack of wealth compared to characters like Darcy and his friend, Charles Bingley.
—Abigail Lee, Variety, 18 Apr. 2025
Moore recommends taking extra care of your skin barrier by gently removing dirt and debris.
—Tatayana Yomary, Essence, 17 Apr. 2025
The top 2 feet of dirt at the Michigan Avenue site was scraped off and hauled away because of contamination from lead paint peelings from the houses that once stood there.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dirt
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Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
In fact, there’s plenty of dirt and animals trotting around the house — a tangible way of indicating the family’s lack of wealth compared to characters like Darcy and his friend, Charles Bingley.
—Abigail Lee, Variety, 18 Apr. 2025
Moore recommends taking extra care of your skin barrier by gently removing dirt and debris.
—Tatayana Yomary, Essence, 17 Apr. 2025
The top 2 feet of dirt at the Michigan Avenue site was scraped off and hauled away because of contamination from lead paint peelings from the houses that once stood there.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dirt
Cite this Entry
“Dirt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dirt. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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