net
1 of 5noun (1)
ˈnet 
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
: network sense 4
5
or less commonly Net : internet
world news on the Net
netless
ˈnet-ləs
adjective netlike
ˈnet-ˌlīk
adjective netty
ˈne-tē
adjective net
2 of 5verb (1)
netted; netting
transitive verb
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
net
3 of 5adjective
1
: free from all charges or deductions: such as
a
: remaining after the deduction of all charges, outlay, or loss
net earnings
net worth
compare gross b
: excluding all tare
net weight
2
: excluding all nonessential considerations : basic, final
the net result
net effect
net
4 of 5verb (2)
netted; netting
transitive verb
1
a
: to receive by way of profit : clear
b
: to produce by way of profit : yield
2
: to get possession of : gain
net
5 of 5noun (2)
1
: a net amount, profit, weight, or price
2
: the score of a golfer in a handicap match after deducting his or her handicap from the gross score
3
: essence, gist
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- mesh
- netting
- network
Verb (1)
- catch up
- enmesh
- immesh
- ensnare
- ensnarl
- entangle
- entoil
- entrap
- mesh
- snare
- tangle
- trap
Verb (2)
- clear
Noun (2)
- earnings
- gain
- lucre
- payoff
- proceeds
- profit
- return
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective The net result of the new bridge will be fewer traffic jams.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1) and Verb (1)
Middle English nett, from Old English; akin to Old High German nezzi net
Adjective
Middle English, clean, pure, from Anglo-French — more at neat entry 1
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb (1)
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (2)
1758, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun (2)
circa 1904, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing net
Kids Definition
net 1 of 4
noun
ˈnet
1
: a device made of strands that weave in and out with open spaces between and used to hold or catch something
2
: a fabric made of strands of thread, cord, rope, or wire that weave in and out with much open space
a net for catching fish
3
: the object placed between players in some games (as tennis)
4
: the area that serves as the goal in some games (as soccer and hockey)
5
often capitalized : internet
6
: network sense 1
a net of passageways
7
: something that traps and is difficult to escape from
They were caught in a net of lies.
net
2 of 4verb
netted; netting
1
: to cover with or as if with a net
2
: to catch in or as if in a net
net
3 of 4adjective
: remaining after all charges or expenses have been subtracted
We made a net profit of eight dollars.
net
4 of 4verb
netted; netting
: to gain or produce as profit : clear
Each sale nets ten cents.
Medical Definition
net
noun
ˈnet
: network
in the portal system, blood passes through two capillary nets E. B. Steen & Ashley Montagu
E. B. Steen & Ashley Montagu Legal Definition
net
adjective
: remaining after deduction of all charges, outlay, or loss
the net proceeds
compare gross net 1 of 4
noun (1)
1
as in netting
a fabric made of strands loosely twisted, knotted, or woven together at regular intervals the basketball didn't go into the basket—it just hit the net Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- netting
- web
- webbing
- mesh
- network
- screening
- lace
- screen
- tulle
- grille
- lattice
- grill
- bobbinet
- fishnet
- marquisette
- filigree
- wirework
- Brussels lace
2
as in web
a device or scheme for capturing another by surprise drug runners caught in an elaborate net set by the police Synonyms & Similar Words
- web
- trap
- ambush
- snare
- ruse
- entanglement
- deception
- envelopment
- entrapment
- trick
- snag
- catch
- hazard
- land mine
- enmeshment
- booby trap
- cheat
- duplicity
- pitfall
- subterfuge
- cheating
- ploy
- double-dealing
- artifice
3
as in tangle
something that catches and holds caught in a net of palace intrigues Synonyms & Similar Words
- web
- tangle
- trap
- entanglement
- snare
- noose
- labyrinth
- maze
- morass
- mesh(es)
- quicksand
- quagmire
- tanglement
- toil(s)
- snarl
- knot
- cobweb
- spiderweb
- cat's cradle
net
2 of 4noun (2)
1
as in profit
the amount of money left when expenses are subtracted from the total amount received his net for the year was about 60% of his total income Synonyms & Similar Words
- profit
- earnings
- proceeds
- gain
- income
- return
- payoff
- revenue
- salary
- sales
- gross
- lucre
- wages
- windfall
- payment
- pay
- yield
- killing
- bottom line
- cleanup
- compensation
- interest
- emolument
- remittal
- requital
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- cost
- expense
- loss
- expenditure
- charge
- outlay
- outgo
- disbursement
2
as in root
the central part or aspect of something under consideration the net of the report on race relations is that things are better but not good enough Synonyms & Similar Words
- root
- core
- essence
- heart
- sum
- point
- kernel
- pivot
- meat
- nucleus
- bottom line
- gist
- pith
- subject
- sum and substance
- crux
- content
- nub
- centerpiece
- bull's-eye
- direction
- tenor
- drift
- substance
- theme
- body
- meat and potatoes
- keynote
- nubbin
- the long and short
- course
- the long and the short
- thesis
- purport
- hypothesis
- proposition
net
3 of 4verb (1)
1
as in to trap
to catch or hold as if in a net the kite was stubbornly netted in the branches of the willow tree Synonyms & Similar Words
- trap
- tangle
- mesh
- snare
- ensnare
- enmesh
- entrap
- immesh
- capture
- entangle
- involve
- catch up
- ensnarl
- entoil
- bag
- birdlime
- collar
- implicate
- mire
- embroil
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disentangle
- free
- detach
- extricate
- clear
- untangle
- liberate
- disengage
2
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly a police sting that netted drug dealers from all parts of the city Synonyms & Similar Words
- grab
- catch
- land
- snatch
- trap
- capture
- hook
- seize
- snare
- get
- snag
- bag
- corral
- collar
- rope
- grapple
- nail
- nab
- nobble
- rap
- glom
- corner
- cop
- grasp
- glove
- clutch
- bay
- secure
- lasso
- mesh
- fist
- take hold (of)
- hold
- arrest
- grip
- snap (up)
- halter
- ensnare
- enmesh
- clasp
- entrap
- apprehend
- rend
- entangle
- detain
- immesh
- kidnap
- wrest
- latch (on or onto)
- abduct
- fasten (on)
- spirit (away or off)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- miss
- free
- discharge
- release
- drop
- liberate
- loosen
- unhand
net
4 of 4verb (2)
as in to earn
to receive after charges and deductions have been made the entrepreneur netted millions on that deal Synonyms & Similar Words
- earn
- gain
- garner
- get
- clear
- make
- realize
- clean up
- cash in (on)
- rake (in)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- gross