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 netted 1 of 2
verb (1)
1
as in trapped
to catch or hold as if in a net the kite was stubbornly netted in the branches of the willow tree Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- trapped
- tangled
- snared
- ensnared
- meshed
- entrapped
- ensnarled
- enmeshed
- involved
- captured
- immeshed
- entangled
- entoiled
- implicated
- bagged
- caught up
- collared
- embroiled
- mired
- birdlimed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disentangled
- cleared
- freed
- detached
- untangled
- extricated
- liberated
- disengaged
2
as in grabbed
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
- grabbed
- caught
- snatched
- seized
- landed
- captured
- snagged
- snared
- nabbed
- got
- bagged
- corralled
- trapped
- nailed
- copped
- hooked
- rapped
- collared
- grappled
- glommed
- held
- clutched
- secured
- roped
- nobbled
- arrested
- lassoed
- grasped
- apprehended
- snapped (up)
- haltered
- gloved
- took hold (of)
- cornered
- clasped
- ensnared
- gripped
- detained
- meshed
- kidnapped
- wrested
- entrapped
- fisted
- entangled
- bayed
- abducted
- enmeshed
- rent
- immeshed
- kidnaped
- rended
- fastened (on)
- latched (on or onto)
- spirited (away or off)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- missed
- released
- freed
- dropped
- discharged
- liberated
- loosened
- unhanded
netted
2 of 2verb (2)
as in earned
to receive after charges and deductions have been made the entrepreneur netted millions on that deal Synonyms & Similar Words
- earned
- garnered
- gained
- made
- cleared
- got
- realized
- cleaned up
- cashed in (on)
- raked (in)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- grossed