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
This unit is used to measure the fine particulate matter in the air, such as smoke, dust, soot or dirt.
—
Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 5 Aug. 2025
At the other end of the five-furlong sprint on the dirt, My Love Caroline beat Jasmina (Kyle Frey) by a head bob at the wire.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025
Indoor dust and dirt can make even clean sheets feel a bit dingy.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Aug. 2025
Conlin said the Crossroads’ turf fields are also flatter than the older fields the league uses, which sometimes have uncut grass and eroded dirt that creates dips in the ground.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dirt
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 5 Aug. 2025
At the other end of the five-furlong sprint on the dirt, My Love Caroline beat Jasmina (Kyle Frey) by a head bob at the wire.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025
Indoor dust and dirt can make even clean sheets feel a bit dingy.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Aug. 2025
Conlin said the Crossroads’ turf fields are also flatter than the older fields the league uses, which sometimes have uncut grass and eroded dirt that creates dips in the ground.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 30 July 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 8 Aug. 2025.
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