# net

/ˈnɛt/ (US) · /nˈɛt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/net
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. mesh material

noun · CEFR A2

a material made of pieces of string or wire crossed together with holes between them.

For teachers: a fabric or structure of open mesh, typically made by knotting together cord, wire, or thread at regular intervals.

- The fisherman spent the afternoon repairing a large hole in his fishing net.
- The safety net was suspended ten metres below the high wire to protect the acrobats in the event of a fall.

### 2. sports equipment

noun · CEFR A2

the barrier in the middle of a tennis court or the area where you score a goal in football.

For teachers: the mesh structure used to divide a court in sports like tennis or to capture the ball in goal-based sports.

- The striker kicked the ball hard into the back of the net to score the winning goal.
- The tennis player rushed to the net to finish the point with a decisive volley before his opponent could recover.

### 3. the internet

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a short name for the internet.

For teachers: a common clipping for the Internet; often used with the definite article.

- I spent an hour surfing the net looking for cheap flights to Spain.
- The rapid expansion of the net has fundamentally altered how information is disseminated and consumed across global markets.

### 4. financial total

noun · CEFR B2

the final amount of money left after you take away costs or taxes.

For teachers: the ultimate amount remaining after all necessary deductions, such as taxes or expenses, have been subtracted.

- After paying for the venue and the food, our net from the ticket sales was very small.
- The company reported a significant increase in its annual net, despite rising operational costs in the third quarter.

### 5. to catch

verb · CEFR B2

to catch something using a net or a clever plan.

For teachers: to capture or trap an object or person, either literally with a mesh device or figuratively through a stratagem.

- The researchers managed to net several rare butterflies for their study.
- The police operation successfully netted several high-ranking members of the smuggling ring after months of surveillance.

### 6. to earn profit

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to earn a specific amount of money as a final profit.

For teachers: to receive a sum of money as a clear profit after all expenses have been accounted for.

- The sale of the old house will net them a huge profit.
- The divestment of the subsidiary is expected to net the parent company over fifty million dollars in liquid assets.

### 7. after deductions

adjective · CEFR B2

describes an amount of money that is left after taxes or costs are taken away.

For teachers: denoting the remaining value or weight after all deductions or the weight of the container have been excluded.

- Her net monthly income is much lower than her total salary because of taxes.
- The net weight of the product is clearly labelled on the packaging to distinguish it from the weight of the glass jar.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun.

### 8. final result

adverb · CEFR C1 · Formal

the final result or amount after everything is considered.

For teachers: in a net manner; as a final result after all factors or deductions are considered.

- The project cost more than expected, but net, it was still a success.
- While some jobs were lost during the merger, the region gained positions net, resulting in a stronger local economy.

## Examples

- The fisherman pulled the heavy net into the boat.
- The tennis ball hit the top of the net and dropped onto the opponent's side of the court.
- Conservationists are developing specialized nets that allow smaller, non-target species to escape while retaining the specific fish required for commercial harvest.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.