1
: a fabric on a loom or in process of being removed from a loom
2
3
: a tissue or membrane of an animal or plant
especially
: that uniting fingers or toes either at their bases (as in humans) or for a greater part of their length (as in many waterbirds)
4
a
: a thin metal sheet, plate, or strip
b
: the plate connecting the upper and lower flanges of a girder or rail
c
: the arm of a crank
5
: something resembling a web:
a
: snare, entanglement
a web of intrigue
ensnarled in a web of folly—
D. A. Stockman
D. A. Stockman
b
: an intricate pattern or structure suggestive of something woven : network
6
: the series of barbs on each side of the shaft of a feather : vane
7
a
: a continuous sheet of paper manufactured or undergoing manufacture on a paper machine
b
: a roll of paper for use in a rotary printing press
8
: the part of a ribbed vault between the ribs
9
or Web
: world wide web
webbed; webbing
: to construct or form a web
Synonyms
Examples of web in a Sentence
Noun
I spent the afternoon surfing the Web.
The spider was spinning its web.
Recent Examples on the WebRosemary Salomone, TIME, 7 Apr. 2024
Brave has regularly pioneered features related to innovative web technologies, including cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and (most recently) artificial intelligence; there's actually a new AI assistant built into it.
—David Nield, WIRED, 6 Apr. 2024
George’s scheming mother, Mary (Julianne Moore), plots his ascendancy, as George seduces the king and navigates the tangled web of the Stuart court.
—Ew Staff Published, EW.com, 5 Apr. 2024
Engineers have been circulating an old, famous-among-programmers web comic about how all modern digital infrastructure rests on a project maintained by some random guy in Nebraska.
—Kevin Roose, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Instead, customers have had to redirect to a web browser at the behest of the streaming platform.
—Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 27 Mar. 2024
Google has introduced choice screens on new Android phones so that E.U. users aren’t automatically locked into Google’s web browser and search engine.
—Eva Dou, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2024
Large language models train by analyzing enormous data sets of text—words from online sources including books, web searches, and Wikipedia—and finding links between words that often appear together.
—Stephen Ornes, WIRED, 24 Mar. 2024
One such instance recounts Lucarelli’s encounter with discrepancies in cash deposits during his tenure, unraveling a complex web of deceit and maleficence within the company’s ranks.
—Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2024
The Styles Desk, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2024
Gucci Suede and Shearling Bag $3,790 at Gucci Standouts from Gucci’s Après-Ski collection include goggles with a striped webbing strap, sporty-chic jacket and pant sets, and cozy shearling accessories such as this Horsebit 1955 suede and shearling bag.
—Ingrid Schmidt, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Jan. 2024
Their feet may point down and inward, and two of their middle toes are webbed.
—Erika Edwards, NBC News, 5 Dec. 2023
The grounds are webbed with paths that often feel like hiking trails covered with pavement.
—Oliver Whang, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2023
The knit accessory features a button snap detail and webbing to remove with ease.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 14 Nov. 2023
The 2018 game famously lifted wholesale the fluid combat mechanics of the other big superhero series, Rocksteady’s Arkham trilogy, trading in Batman’s billionaire kit for webbing.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2023
Tiny spider mites will leave small dots on foliage and can often be detected from webbing on the plant.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2023
The piece also featured a deep v-neckline with material that appeared like webbing from the top of the design all the way to the middle of her waist.
—Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 2 Sep. 2023
Noun
Print and broadcast media—and increasingly web content too—speak in many voices and worldviews.
—Rosemary Salomone, TIME, 7 Apr. 2024
Brave has regularly pioneered features related to innovative web technologies, including cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and (most recently) artificial intelligence; there's actually a new AI assistant built into it.
—David Nield, WIRED, 6 Apr. 2024
George’s scheming mother, Mary (Julianne Moore), plots his ascendancy, as George seduces the king and navigates the tangled web of the Stuart court.
—Ew Staff Published, EW.com, 5 Apr. 2024
Engineers have been circulating an old, famous-among-programmers web comic about how all modern digital infrastructure rests on a project maintained by some random guy in Nebraska.
—Kevin Roose, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Instead, customers have had to redirect to a web browser at the behest of the streaming platform.
—Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 27 Mar. 2024
Google has introduced choice screens on new Android phones so that E.U. users aren’t automatically locked into Google’s web browser and search engine.
—Eva Dou, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2024
Large language models train by analyzing enormous data sets of text—words from online sources including books, web searches, and Wikipedia—and finding links between words that often appear together.
—Stephen Ornes, WIRED, 24 Mar. 2024
One such instance recounts Lucarelli’s encounter with discrepancies in cash deposits during his tenure, unraveling a complex web of deceit and maleficence within the company’s ranks.
—Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2024
Verb
With her spearmint webbed Reem Acra gown, the heiress and occasional singer and DJ carried a like-colored clutch emblazoned with — what else? — her last name.
—The Styles Desk, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2024
Gucci Suede and Shearling Bag $3,790 at Gucci Standouts from Gucci’s Après-Ski collection include goggles with a striped webbing strap, sporty-chic jacket and pant sets, and cozy shearling accessories such as this Horsebit 1955 suede and shearling bag.
—Ingrid Schmidt, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Jan. 2024
Their feet may point down and inward, and two of their middle toes are webbed.
—Erika Edwards, NBC News, 5 Dec. 2023
The grounds are webbed with paths that often feel like hiking trails covered with pavement.
—Oliver Whang, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2023
The knit accessory features a button snap detail and webbing to remove with ease.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 14 Nov. 2023
The 2018 game famously lifted wholesale the fluid combat mechanics of the other big superhero series, Rocksteady’s Arkham trilogy, trading in Batman’s billionaire kit for webbing.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2023
Tiny spider mites will leave small dots on foliage and can often be detected from webbing on the plant.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2023
The piece also featured a deep v-neckline with material that appeared like webbing from the top of the design all the way to the middle of her waist.
—Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 2 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'web.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old Norse vefr web, Old English wefan to weave
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
circa 1604, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Time Traveler
The first known use of web was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing web
Dictionary Entries Near web
Cite this Entry
“Web.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/web. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
web
1 of 2 noun1
: a fabric on a loom or in the process of being removed from a loom
2
a
b
: a network of threads spun especially by the larvae of various insects (as tent caterpillars) and usually serving as a nest or shelter
c
: something that catches and holds one
spies caught in a web of plots
3
: a membrane of an animal or plant
especially
: one uniting toes (as of many waterbirds)
4
5
capitalized
: world wide web
web
2 of 2 verb
webbed; webbing
1
: to make or form a web
2
: to cover or provide with webs or a web
More from Merriam-Webster on web
Nglish: Translation of web for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of web for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about web
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