1
a(1)
: glaringly noticeable usually because of inexcusable badness or objectionableness
a gross error
(2)
: out-and-out, utter
a gross injustice
b
: visible without the aid of a microscope
a gross lesion
c
archaic
: immediately obvious
Now to all sense 'tis gross you love my son.—
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare2
a
: coarse in nature or behavior : unrefined
has gross table manners
b
: gravely deficient in civility or decency : crudely vulgar
merely gross, a scatological rather than a pornographic impropriety—Aldous Huxley
Aldous Huxley
c
informal
: inspiring disgust or distaste
That sandwich looks gross.
3
a
: of, relating to, or dealing with general aspects or broad distinctions
a gross outline of the plan
b
: consisting of an overall total exclusive of deductions
gross income
compare net
5
: made up of material or perceptible elements
7
archaic
: not fastidious in taste : undiscriminating
grossly
adverb
grossness
noun
grossed; grossing; grosses
: to earn or bring in (an overall total) exclusive of deductions (as for taxes or expenses)
The movie grossed over 100 million dollars.
grosser
noun
Synonyms
Examples of gross in a Sentence
Adjective
They have suffered a gross injustice.
She has a gross habit of chewing on the ends of her hair.
Verb
They grossed $50,000 before taxes.
Recent Examples on the Web
Greg Evans, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2024
Among the domestic successes has been the Korean war drama The Volunteers: To the War II, which premiered on China’s National Day (October 1) and grossed $161 million by the end of the month.
—Mathew Scott, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024
Mark Hughes, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
The disastrous around $300 million investment for them left theaters after four weeks with under $60 million in domestic gross.
—Tom Brueggemann, IndieWire, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gross 
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Verb
Season to date, Broadway, in the 24th week of the 2024-25 season, has grossed $751,471,960, up about 11% over last year at this time, with total attendance of 6,116,620, up about 10%.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2024
Among the domestic successes has been the Korean war drama The Volunteers: To the War II, which premiered on China’s National Day (October 1) and grossed $161 million by the end of the month.
—Mathew Scott, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
Godzilla Minus increased its own gross to $56.9 million through the weekend.
—Mark Hughes, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
The disastrous around $300 million investment for them left theaters after four weeks with under $60 million in domestic gross.
—Tom Brueggemann, IndieWire, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gross
Dictionary Entries Near gross
Cite this Entry
“Gross.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gross. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
gross
1 of 4 adjective1
a
: very obvious : glaring
a gross error
b
: shameful sense 1
gross injustice
2
: big entry 1 sense 2a, bulky
especially
: excessively fat
3
: consisting of a whole before any deductions
gross earnings
4
: coarse sense 5, vulgar
gross language
5
informal
: causing disgust or distaste
grossly
adverb
grossness
noun
gross
2 of 4 noun
: a whole before any deductions
gross
3 of 4 verb
: to earn before deductions
grossed $50,000 before taxes
gross
4 of 4 noun
plural gross
: 12 dozen
a gross of pencils
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English gros, gross "large, thick, easy to see or understand," from early French gros "thick, coarse," from Latin grossus (same meaning)
Noun
Middle English gros "a group of 12 dozen," probably from early French grosse "sum, whole," derived from gros "thick"
Medical Definition
gross
adjective1
a
: glaringly or flagrantly obvious
b
: visible without the aid of a microscope : macroscopic
gross lesions
compare occult
2
: growing or spreading with excessive or abnormal luxuriance
3
: of, relating to, or dealing with general aspects or broad distinctions
important to understand the gross behavior of the sexually responding animal—A. C. Kinsey
A. C. Kinsey
grossly
adverb
Legal Definition
gross
1 of 3 adjective1
: flagrant or extreme especially in badness or offensiveness : of very blameworthy character
a gross violation of the rules of ethics
a gross abuse of trust
2
: consisting of an overall total exclusive of deductions
gross annual earnings
compare net
grossly
adverb
grossness
noun
gross
2 of 3 noun
: overall total exclusive of deductions
gross
3 of 3 transitive verb
: to earn or bring in (an overall total) exclusive of deductions (as for taxes or expenses)
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, immediately obvious, from Middle French gros thick, coarse, from Latin grossus
Biographical Definition
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