1 a dime a dozen | Definition of a dime a dozen
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

dime

noun
\ ˈdīm How to pronounce dime (audio) \

Definition of dime

1a : a coin of the U.S. worth Âč/₁₀ dollar
b : a petty sum of money
2 : a Canadian 10-cent piece
3 slang : a packet containing 10 dollars worth of an illicit drug (such as marijuana)

— called also dime bag

4 informal : money provided to pay expenses Executives in a perk-rich environment get used to living on the company's dime [=on the company's money; at the company's expense]— James Surowiecki They hopped a Greyhound, on their own dime, and had such a good time they stayed on 
— Mark Ribowsky The boys are worthless, feckless layabouts, living off David's dime.— Whitney Pastorek
a dime a dozen
: so plentiful or commonplace as to be of little esteem or slight value
on a dime
1 : in a very small area these cars can turn on a dime
2 : instantly
Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about dime

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of dime in a Sentence

the beauty of this deal is that all the extras won't cost you a dime

Recent Examples on the Web

 Phillips also plays linebacker in the team’s dime package, meaning someone will have to take over strong safety in that alignment. — Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, "Derwin James will have foot surgery and miss several Chargers games," 17 Aug. 2019 McManis was the backup slot cornerback last season and the fourth cornerback in the dime package. — Rich Campbell, chicagotribune.com, "Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara form a dangerous duo. What about the young depth behind them? A closer look at the Bears cornerbacks," 31 July 2019 Luhrmann’s movie embraced cheap sentiment as if dime-store novels made the world go round. — Peter Marks, Washington Post, "Will you love ‘Moulin Rouge!’ as a stage musical? Well, you’ll certainly fall in like.," 25 July 2019 In Anna, dime-size hail was reported, according to the weather service. — Jesus Jimenez, Dallas News, "Dallas-Fort Worth under tornado watch Wednesday evening, with damaging winds, hail possible," 19 June 2019 That meant that Menefee and Carroll, who did not admit wrongdoing, might not have to pay a dime out of their own pockets. — Jesse Eisinger, ProPublica, "How Trump’s Political Appointees Overruled Tougher Settlements With Big Banks," 4 Aug. 2019 Consumers don’t have to pay a dime to chat with friends on Facebook, search for the best route using Google Maps, exchange emails, comb the internet for facts and figures or engage in countless other activities. — Amanda Lotz, The Conversation, "Amazon, Google and Facebook warrant antitrust scrutiny for many reasons – not just because they’re large," 24 June 2019 But scientists studying the region know Greenland’s weather is highly variable and can change on the dime. — Jason Samenow, BostonGlobe.com, "The Arctic Ocean and Greenland ice sheet have seen record ice loss in June," 16 June 2019 Sidekick was developed internally within Lockheed Martin on the company dime. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "A New Weapons Rack Just Increased the F-35’s Missiles by 50 Percent," 3 May 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dime.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of dime

1786, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for dime

Middle English, tenth part, tithe, from Anglo-French disme, dime, from Latin decima, from feminine of decimus tenth, from decem ten — more at ten

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for dime

dime

noun
How to pronounce dime (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of dime

: a U.S. or Canadian coin that is worth 10 cents

See the full definition for dime in the English Language Learners Dictionary

dime

noun
\ ˈdīm How to pronounce dime (audio) \

Kids Definition of dime

: a United States coin worth ten cents

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on dime

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with dime

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for dime

Spanish Central: Translation of dime

Nglish: Translation of dime for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of dime for Arabic Speakers

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!