grandmother

noun

grand·​moth·​er ˈgran(d)-ˌmə-t͟hər How to pronounce grandmother (audio)
Synonyms of grandmothernext
1
: the mother of one's father or mother
2
: a female ancestor
grandmotherly
ˈgran(d)-ˌmə-t͟hər-lē How to pronounce grandmother (audio)
adjective

Examples of grandmother in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Named after the brothers’ maternal grandmother, born enslaved, the Brockman Gallery was a flourishing, ongoing act of self-determination in the wake of the 1965 Watts Rebellion. — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 Motherhood may not have been her calling, but Sabrina Popo was a loving and affectionate grandmother. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 My grandmother Esther was committed to helping students pursue their education and build brighter futures. — Pat Saperstein, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026 The grieving grandmother expressed deep devastation and anger over the sudden, violent loss of her grandson. — Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grandmother

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grandmother was in the 15th century

Rhymes for grandmother

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Browse Nearby Words

grand monde
grandmother
grandmother clock
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Cite this Entry

“Grandmother.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grandmother. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

grandmother

noun
grand·​moth·​er ˈgran(d)-ˌmət͟h-ər How to pronounce grandmother (audio)
1
: the mother of one's father or mother
2
: a female ancestor

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