net

NET/nɛt/

Pluralnets

Verbnets, netting, netted

25 meanings of net

Practice

1
catching toolnouncountable
String or rope joined into a mesh with holes, often used to catch fish or other animals.
Like a bag made of holes that lets water through but keeps the fish inside.
She swept the net through the shallows and pulled up a wriggling crab.
The children chased grasshoppers with a long-handled net.
2
minus costsadjective
Left over after costs or other amounts are taken away.
Like the money still in your pocket after you've paid for everything.
Her net pay was lower than expected after taxes came out.
The shop reported a net profit of fifty thousand dollars.
UsageSay net of tax for the amount after tax.
Similartake-home, clear
Oppositegross
Note
3
overalladjective
Final, after everything has been added up or taken away.
Like the final score after all the points are added up.
The net result was that we saved money.
After all the changes, the net effect was small.
Similaroverall, final, ultimate, resulting
4
goal framenouncountable
A frame with mesh at the back that players try to get the ball into to score.
Like a basket the ball has to go into for a point.
The goalkeeper dove but couldn't keep the ball out of the net.
He fired a shot that rattled the back of the net.
UsageSay the ball went into the net.
Similargoal
Note
5
system of linksnouncountable
A system that links many people or places so they can travel or share messages.
Like a spider's web where every thread connects to the others.
The pilots kept in touch over the radio net during the storm.
The truck drivers talk to each other on a radio net.
Similarweb, system, grid
6
verbtransitive
To earn money after costs are taken away, or to win or get something.
Like a stall that brings in money for the people who run it.
The bake sale netted the club over three hundred dollars.
A good harvest can net the farmer a tidy sum.
UsageSay the sale netted $500, or netted us $500.
Similarearn, make, clear, gain, yield
Oppositelose
7
scoreverbtransitive
To score a goal by getting the ball into the net.
Like dropping a coin right into the slot.
She netted the winning goal in the final minute.
He needs to net another goal to complete his hat-trick.
UsageSports reports say a player netted a goal.
Similarscore, bag, slot
Note
8
nouncountable
The amount left over after all costs or other amounts are taken away.
Like the candy left in the bag after you share some with friends.
After deductions, the net came to just under a thousand dollars.
Their net for the quarter was higher than anyone expected.
UsageSay the net or our net on a sale.
Similarprofit, earnings, proceeds
Oppositegross
9
nouncolloquial
The Internet, with all the websites and services you can use on it.
I looked up the recipe on the net.
My grandpa spends hours surfing the Net every evening.
UsageSay on the net.
Similarinternet, web
10
catch (in mesh)verbtransitive
To catch something in a net, or to catch someone with a trap or plan.
Like scooping up fish with a basket made of mesh.
The crew netted over a ton of sardines that morning.
Volunteers net the birds briefly to fit them with tracking bands.
Similarcatch, trap, capture, snare
Oppositerelease, free
11
nouncountable
Something that looks like a mesh of crossing lines or threads.
Like the crisscross pattern of lines on a cracked phone screen.
A net of fine cracks spread across the old painting's surface.
Frost left a delicate net of white across the windowpane.
Similarweb, mesh, lattice, grid
12
nouncountablecricket
A space with nets around it where cricket players practice hitting and bowling the ball.
The team spent an hour batting in the nets before the cricket match.
Net practice starts at six, so bring your cricket bat and pads.
UsageSay in the nets, but net practice.

Less common meanings

13
court barriernouncountable
A mesh stretched across the middle of a court to split it into two sides.
Like a low fence running down the middle of the court.
Her serve clipped the net and dropped just over.
The volleyball players leaped to block shots at the net.
UsageA ball goes over the net or hits the net.
Note
14
snarenouncountable
A trap set to catch someone, often as part of a clever plan.
Like a hidden trap that closes around you before you notice.
The detectives slowly closed the net around the smuggling ring.
He realized too late that he had walked straight into their net.
UsageSay the police closed the net around a gang.
Similartrap, snare, web
Note
15
adverb
Counted after costs and other amounts are taken away.
Like counting your money after you've paid for everything.
The deal earned them two thousand dollars net.
The job pays forty thousand dollars a year net.
UsagePut it after the amount: $500 net.
Similarclear
16
verbtransitive
To cover or close off something with a net.
Like putting a cover over food to keep flies away.
They netted the fruit trees to keep birds away.
We need to net the pond before the leaves start to fall.
UsageSay you net fruit trees against birds.
Similarcover, enclose
Note
17
hit intoverbtransitive
In tennis and similar games, to hit the ball into the net by mistake instead of over it.
Like kicking a ball straight into the fence instead of over it.
He netted an easy shot and lost the point.
Try not to net the ball when you serve.
Note
18
front courtnouncountable
In tennis, the part of the court close to the center mesh that divides the two sides.
Like standing close to the goal in a game instead of far back.
She rushed the net to put the ball away.
He won the point with a quick volley at the net.
UsageSay at the net or rush the net.
Note
19
fold-out shapenouncountable
In geometry, a flat shape made of joined polygons that folds up into a solid.
Like a flat piece of cardboard you fold up into a box.
We cut out the net and folded it into a cube.
A net for a pyramid has one square and four triangles.
Note
20
verbtransitive
In finance, to set amounts owed each way against each other so only the difference is left.
Like making a bet and an opposite bet so you cannot win or lose.
The two banks net their payments against each other every evening.
The firms netted what they owed each other and paid only the difference.
Similaroffset, hedge
Note
21
make meshverbtransitive
To make a net or mesh by knotting or tying threads together.
Like tying threads together to make a string bag.
She nets fine thread into lace by hand.
Learning to net takes patience and steady fingers.
Similarweave, knit, knot
Note
22
adjectiveobsolete
Good, pleasing, and clean.
Note
23
adjective
Pure and clean, with nothing else mixed in.
24
noun
In electronics, a wire or path that links two or more parts of a circuit.
25
verbdialectal
In some dialects, to clean, wash, or rinse something.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of net apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1, 4–5, 7, 10–14, 16–19, 21

From Old English "net," possibly going back to an old root meaning "to twist or knot."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Net derives from Old English net. en.wiktionary.org
Net possibly ultimately derives from a root meaning to twist or knot. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 2–3, 6, 8, 15, 20, 22

From Old French "net," from Latin "nitidus." It is a doublet of "neat."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Net derives from Old French net. en.wiktionary.org
Old French net derives from Latin nitidus. en.wiktionary.org
Net is a doublet of neat. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 9

Short for "Internet," which comes from "inter-" and "network."

Checked 3 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Net is short for Internet. en.wiktionary.org
Internet comes from inter- and network, through the shortened form of internetwork. fr.wiktionary.org