trimming

1 of 2

noun

trim·​ming ˈtri-miŋ How to pronounce trimming (audio)
Synonyms of trimmingnext
1
a
: an additional garnishing
turkey and all the trimmings
b
: a decorative accessory or additional item
trimmings for a hat
c
: the remnants of something that has been trimmed : clipping
tree/grass/hedge trimmings
2
: defeat, beating
3
: the act of one who trims

trimming

2 of 2

present participle of trim entry 1

Synonyms of trimming

Relevance

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of trimming in a Sentence

Noun our football team suffered a pretty severe trimming
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.
Noun
Exit 31 has a nondescript chain-link fence and grass that could use a trimming. — James Barron, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026 Inspired by Parton’s iconic flashy feminine style, Musgraves wore a formfitting hot-pink sparkly dress with feather trimming, silver hoop earrings, and purple eye shadow. — Isabella Albaig, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026 Antica Libreria Cascianelli, a bookstore full of rare books and antiques, dates back to 1909 and occupies a former dressmaking and trimmings shop. — Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 25 Sep. 2026 According to Calavante, bobs need a trimming every six to eight weeks to maintain their shape. — Sarah Madaus, InStyle, 19 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trimming

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1525, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of trimming was circa 1525

Rhymes for trimming

See All Rhymes for trimming

Browse Nearby Words

trimmer signal
trimming
trimming board
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Trimming.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trimming. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

trimming

noun
trim·​ming
ˈtrim-iŋ
1
: the action of one that trims
2
: a severe defeat or beating
3
: something that trims, ornaments, or completes
trimmings for a hat
turkey with all the trimmings
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All