adjective

gross

grohs

adjective

Disgusting or unpleasant.

"That mouldy sandwich in the fridge is gross."

"It was gross watching him chew with his mouth open."

Total, before any deductions such as tax or expenses.

"Her gross salary is higher than what actually lands in her account each month."

Obvious, glaring, or extreme, often describing something clearly wrong.

"The report revealed a gross violation of safety rules."

noun

The total amount earned before deductions.

"The film's gross at the box office topped $200 million."

A group of 144 items (twelve dozen).

"The factory ordered a gross of bottles for the new batch."

verb

To earn a total amount before deductions.

"The movie grossed $50 million on its opening weekend."

How to Use Gross

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDepending on context: disgusting, or the total amount before anything is subtracted, or a count of 144.

Common mistake

Don't confuse "gross" (total before deductions) with "net" (what's left after deductions) — they're opposites.

Easily confused with

net →

Common pairings

gross income gross profit gross out

Word Forms

grosser comparative, more gross comparative, grossed past tense, gross plural, grosses plural, grosses singular, grossest superlative, most gross superlative

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That mouldy sandwich in the fridge is _____.

Etymology

From Old French gros, "large, thick," from Latin grossus ("big, fat, thick").

Rhymes for gross

oss boss loss toss foss joss moss doss Voss Ross goss Hoss

See all rhymes for gross →