nick 1 of 2

noun

ˈnik How to pronounce nick (audio)
Definition of nicknext
1
as in chip
a V-shaped cut usually on an edge or a surface I made a nick in the frame when I accidentally dropped it

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2
as in jail
British slang a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody the blokes at the pub traded stories of nights spent in the nick after having lifted too many pints

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3
as in shape
British a state of being or fitness the princess is in excellent nick these days

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nick

2 of 2

verb

British slang
1
as in to steal
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep that lorry was a piece of rubbish, I don't know why anyone would want to nick it

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2
as in to arrest
to take or keep under one's control by authority of law a petty thief who was always getting nicked for picking the pockets of tourists outside Buckingham Palace

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of nick
Noun
During construction, floorboards were left exposed to develop nicks and dents. — Genevieve Walker, Architectural Digest, 11 July 2026 The handle comes with one original Athena Club cartridge, which has a skin guard to prevent nicks and a hyaluronic acid serum strip. — Sara Coughlin, Allure, 5 July 2026
Verb
Some of those changeups nearly nicked the bottom of the zone, but most were uncompetitive. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2026 However, surgeons accidentally nicked her aorta — the largest blood vessel in the body — during her operation. — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for nick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nick
  1. chip
  2. jail
  3. shape
  4. steal
  5. arrest
  6. slit
  7. prison
  8. condition
Noun
  • For comparison, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world’s largest foundry, began mass-producing 7nm chips in 2018 and can achieve yields exceeding 90%, depending on factors including chip design and die size.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Slate chips replace the usual bark or mulch, and layered plantings, custom window boxes and a medallion set into the rear of the fireplace show the same level of care found indoors.
    — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of chip
Noun
  • He was given an option to bypass jail by paying a $250 fine and providing the filings within a week.
    — Lucas Aulbach, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Castro was released from a Texas jail last week after a judge declined to order his return to Minnesota.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of jail
Noun
  • The result looks less like a blade simply ground into shape and more like a form sculpted directly from solid steel.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The minimalist shape pairs well with jeans, loungewear, and even dresses.
    — Kaitlin Gates, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of shape
Verb
  • Elsewhere, stoles stole the show, particular those draped languidly over the shoulder or fashioned as cummerbunds.
    — Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
  • On multiple occasions, law enforcement officers have used Flock footage to identify and ultimately arrest people accused of stealing from Ulta Beauty stores.
    — Kara McGrath, Allure, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of steal
Verb
  • After years of legal proceedings in the United Kingdom and Romania, the Tates were arrested in Miami by US Marshals on July 18 on provisional arrest warrants requested by Britain.
    — Jonny Hallam, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Then, in March 2025, he was arrested for the rape of a 46-year-old woman earlier that year.
    — Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of arrest
Noun
  • The actress went strapless in a corseted leopard print Givenchy dress complete with a giant bow and a sultry thigh-high slit.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 27 Aug. 2026
  • His girlfriend, actor and model Elizabeth Hurley, wore a purple dress with a long slit to mark the occasion.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of slit
Noun
  • The jury did convict Rosado of driving under the influence and he was sentenced to five years in prison, but Rosado has been behind bars on a $2 million bail since 2021 so won't have to serve any additional time.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Over the course of Exile, one of Loktev’s subjects is poisoned; another receives a five-year prison sentence in absentia.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of prison
Noun
  • Having a healthy lawn means managing soil conditions for the roots, mowing properly, and strengthening the density of the grass by overseeding.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Women would also be screened through a questionnaire, which could then move to treatment for conditions related to hormonal imbalance.
    — Idrees Ali, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of condition

Phrases Containing nick

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niching
nick
nick (at)
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Cite this Entry

“Nick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nick. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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