Word
grimy
US/ˈɡɹaɪmi/
UK/ɡɹˈaɪmi/
Definition
adj. covered in dirt, oil, or grime. It describes something that is very dirty and hard to clean.
adj. covered with or consisting of dirt, oil, or grime. Often used to describe urban environments or industrial settings.
Examples
“The old factory floor was grimy and sticky.”
“After working in the coal mines all day, the workers returned home with grimy faces and soot-stained clothes.”
“The city's narrow alleyways were lined with grimy brick walls that had not seen a proper cleaning in decades, reflecting the industrial history of the district.”
Examples
simple
“The old factory floor was grimy and sticky.”
contextual
“After working in the coal mines all day, the workers returned home with grimy faces and soot-stained clothes.”
complex
“The city's narrow alleyways were lined with grimy brick walls that had not seen a proper cleaning in decades, reflecting the industrial history of the district.”
Etymology
From grime + -y.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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