rim
noun
the outer edge, border, margin, or brink of something, especially of a circular object.
rim
American
[rim]
/ rɪm /
noun
-
rims
plural
-
the outer edge, border, margin, or brink of something, especially of a circular object.
- Antonyms:
- center
-
any edge, margin, or frame added to or around a central object or area.
-
the outer circle of a wheel, attached to the hub by spokes.
-
a circular strip of metal forming the connection between an automobile wheel and tire, either permanently attached to or removable from the wheel.
-
a drive wheel or flywheel, as on a spinning mule.
-
Basketball. the metal ring from which the net is suspended to form the basket.
-
Journalism. the outer edge of a usually U -shaped copy desk, occupied by the copyreaders.
-
Metallurgy. (in an ingot) an outer layer of metal having a composition different from that of the center.
verb (used with object)
-
rims,
present (3rd person singular)
-
rimmed,
past participle, past
-
rimming
present participle
-
to furnish with a rim, border, or margin.
-
(of a golf ball or putt) to roll around the edge of (a hole) but not go in.
-
Basketball. (of a basketball) to roll around (the rim of the basket) and not go in.
-
to coat or encrust the rim of (a glass).
Rim each cocktail glass with salt.
rim
1
British
/ rɪm /
noun
-
the raised edge of an object, esp of something more or less circular such as a cup or crater
-
the peripheral part of a wheel, to which the tyre is attached
-
basketball the hoop from which the net is suspended
verb
-
to put a rim on (a pot, cup, wheel, etc)
-
slang to lick, kiss, or suck the anus of (one's sexual partner)
-
ball games (of a ball) to run around the edge of (a hole, basket, etc)
RIM
2
British
abbreviation
Synonym Usage
Rim, brim refer to the boundary of a circular or curved area. A rim is a line or surface bounding such an area; an edge or border: the rim of a glass. Brim usually means the inside of the rim, at the top of a hollow object (except of a hat), and is used particularly when the object contains something: The cup was filled to the brim.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
rimsimple
-
rimssimple
-
have rimmedperfect
-
has rimmedperfect
-
am rimmingprogressive
-
are rimmingprogressive
-
is rimmingprogressive
-
have been rimmingperfect progressive
-
has been rimmingperfect progressive
Past
-
rimmedsimple
-
had rimmedperfect
-
was rimmingprogressive
-
were rimmingprogressive
-
had been rimmingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of rim
First recorded before 1150; Middle English; Old English -rima (in compounds); cognate with Old Norse rimi “raised strip of land, ridge”
Explanation
A rim is an edge. The rim of a mug is where you put your mouth to drink hot chocolate, and the rim holding a basketball net is where you're aiming when you shoot the ball. People often use the word rim for the lip of a cup or bowl. You can also use the word rim for the circle at the top of a basketball hoop. There's also the rim of a wheel — the part the tire is attached to — and the rim of your eyeglasses. Rim comes from the Old English rima, "edge," which appears in the Old English word særima, "seashore," or "rim of the sea."
Vocabulary lists containing rim
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:
He emerged as a strong rebounder and rim protector, but the Jazz, still in rebuilding mode, never challenged for a playoff spot.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 25, 2026
The march had been pushed to the capital's southeast rim under a last-minute order by authorities.
From Barron's ● Oct. 24, 2026
The rover has since climbed toward the crater rim, where scientists are investigating a different type of ancient environment.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 21, 2026
Eventually, the robot gripped the glass by the rim, maneuvered it into place and threw its hands in the air in triumph.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
I leaned back into the cushions, running my finger around the glass rim.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
After the acquisition in 2010, many engineers moved over to RIM to build a mobile operating system for the BlackBerry.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 2, 2026
Recently fired and fired up, Jim sees the device’s potential, making a deal to acquire part of RIM in exchange for cash and expertise.
From New York Times ● May 11, 2023
Both Balsillie and Lazaridis left RIM in 2012.
From Seattle Times ● May 10, 2023
Mr. Balsillie’s first thought was RIM was losing AT&T as a customer.
From Forbes ● May 26, 2015
He was a convincing-enough soul that I ended up taking a 13 percent pay cut to join RIM.
From BusinessWeek ● Dec. 5, 2013
That low angle means crater rims, mountains, ridges, and even small surface bumps can block sunlight from reaching lower terrain.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 25, 2026
A Baroque-like wheel fusing geometry, monsters and movement, it suggests a supernatural take on contemporary spinning rims.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 29, 2026
Four times a year, America’s publicly traded companies line up for a dunk contest on lowered rims called earnings season.
From Barron's ● Nov. 7, 2025
S&W Atlas Iron & Metal had processed scrap metal in Watts since 1949, shredding and baling aluminum cans, steel rims and copper wire.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2025
He looks at me over the top of his silver rims.
From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline
Heat the oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026
A Hamby three-point shot at the halftime buzzer rimmed out and the Sparks headed to the locker room down 49-40.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 2026
I like her rimmed bowl for breakfast or a light lunch.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 10, 2025
Prosper, who wore a grey T-shirt, attended his hearing wearing black rimmed glasses.
From BBC ● Mar. 18, 2025
On the court Trip got trapped in the corner and threw up a three that rimmed and came out.
From "Slam!" by Walter Dean Myers
Beyond the museum, the grassy hills rimming the building will also be expanded and extended because Angelenos—children and adults—have a beloved tradition of rolling down them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 22, 2026
The Lakers stopped Buddy Hield on a baseline trap in the final seconds Thursday, his shot rimming out as Anthony Davis grabbed the rebound to earn the team a 112-111 win.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 2, 2023
Beside her, Ryder, gray hairs rimming his eyes, cropped grass on the lawn of his new home, untethered and, without a fence around him, free.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 21, 2022
“You can create a toned-down version of the look by just rimming your eyes with liner,” Ms. Rinaldi said.
From New York Times ● Feb. 9, 2022
He’s mainly bald, with a half circle of gray hair rimming his head and long white whiskers that poke out from different parts of his cheeks.
From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
