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Holmes

American  
[hohmz, hohlmz] / hoʊmz, hoʊlmz /

noun

  1. John Haynes 1879–1964, U.S. clergyman.

  2. Oliver Wendell 1809–94, U.S. poet, novelist, essayist, and physician.

  3. his son Oliver Wendell, 1841–1935, U.S. jurist: associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court 1902–32.

  4. Sherlock, a detective in many mystery stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.


Holmes British  
/ həʊmz /

noun

  1. Oliver Wendell. 1809–94, US author, esp of humorous essays, such as The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table (1858) and its sequels

  2. his son, Oliver Wendell. 1841–1935, US jurist, noted for his liberal judgments

  3. Sir Paul .1950–2013, New Zealand radio and television broadcaster; presenter of The Paul Holmes Breakfast , (1987–2008)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Holmes Scientific  
/ hōmz,hōlmz /
  1. British geologist who pioneered a method of determining the age of rocks by measuring their radioactive components. He was also an early supporter of Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Yes, there was Theranos and “fake it till you make it” Elizabeth Holmes.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 12, 2026

The third film takes Enola, the teenage sister of Sherlock Holmes, to Malta, where her future with Tewkesbury is interrupted by a dangerous new case involving Sherlock's disappearance.

From BBC Jun. 27, 2026

These fresher faces — Jasper Dolphin, Rachel Wolfson, Zach Holmes — prove brave and resilient when allowed to participate.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 26, 2026

“I’m running through the lobby and the vice president of Harrah’s, Holmes Hendrickson, was talking to a heavyset guy with a cigar. Holmes said to me, ‘Tommy, come here.’

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 18, 2026

She remained perplexed and a few days later again asked Holmes about Emeline.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

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