Jump To:

• trim
  trim

  verb (used with object)

  to put into a neat or orderly condition by clipping, paring, pruning, etc..
• Trim
  Trim

  noun

  the county town of Meath, Republic of Ireland; 12th-century castle, medieval cathedral; textiles and machinery. Pop: 5894 (2002)

trim

American  

[trim] / trɪm /

verb (used with object)

• trims,
  present (3rd person singular)
• trimmed,
  past participle,  past
• trimming
  present participle

1. to put into a neat or orderly condition by clipping, paring, pruning, etc..

   to trim a hedge.

   Synonyms:

   lop, cut, shave, shear

2. to remove (something superfluous or dispensable) by or as if by cutting (often followed byoff ).

   to trim off loose threads from a ragged edge.

3. to cut down, as to required size or shape.

   trim a budget; trim a piece of wood.

4. Aeronautics. to level off (an airship or airplane) in flight.

5. Nautical.

   1. to distribute the load of (a ship) so that it sits well in the water.

   2. to stow or arrange, as cargo.

   3. to adjust (the sails or yards) with reference to the direction of the wind and the course of the ship.

6. to decorate or adorn with ornaments or embellishments.

   to trim a dress with fur.

   Synonyms:

   garnish, embellish, ornament, bedeck, deck

7. to arrange goods in (a store window, showcase, etc.) as a display.

8. to prepare or adjust (a lamp, fire, etc.) for proper burning.

9. Informal.

   1. to rebuke or reprove.

   2. to beat or thrash.

   3. to defeat.

10. to dress or array (often followed byup ).

---

verb (used without object)

• trims,
  present (3rd person singular)
• trimmed,
  past participle,  past
• trimming
  present participle

1. Nautical.

   1. to assume a particular position or trim in the water, as a vessel.

   2. to adjust the sails or yards with reference to the direction of the wind and the course of the ship.

2. to pursue a neutral or cautious policy between parties.

3. to accommodate one's views to the prevailing opinion for reasons of expediency.

noun

• trims
  plural

1. the condition, order, or fitness of a person or thing for action, work, use, etc.

2. Nautical.

   1. the set of a ship in the water, especially the most advantageous one.

   2. the condition of a ship with reference to its fitness for sailing.

   3. the adjustment of sails, rigging, etc., with reference to wind direction and the course of the ship.

   4. the condition of a submarine as regards buoyancy.

3. a person's dress, adornment, or appearance.

4. material used for decoration or embellishment; decorative trimming.

   Synonyms:

   garnish, adornment

5. decoration of a store window for the display of merchandise; window dressing.

6. a trimming by cutting, clipping, or the like.

7. a haircut that restores the previous cut to neatness without changing the hairstyle.

8. something that is cut off or eliminated.

9. Aeronautics. the attitude of an airplane with respect to all three axes, at which balance occurs in forward flight under no controls.

10. Building Trades. finished woodwork or the like used to decorate or border openings or wall surfaces, as cornices, baseboards, or moldings.

11. Automotive.

    1. the upholstery, knobs, handles, and other equipment inside a motor car.

    2. ornamentation on the exterior of an automobile, especially in metal or a contrasting color.

adjective

• trimmer,
  comparative
• trimmest
  superlative

1. pleasingly neat or smart in appearance.

   trim lawns.

   Synonyms:

   spruce, trig, compact

2. in good condition or order.

3. (of a person) in excellent physical condition.

   Swimming is a good way to keep trim.

4. slim; lean.

5. Obsolete. good, excellent, or fine.

adverb

1. trimly.

idioms

1. trim one's sails. sail.

trim ¹ British  

/ trɪm /

adjective

1. neat and spruce in appearance

2. slim; slender

3. in good condition

---

verb

1. to put in good order, esp by cutting or pruning

2. to shape and finish (timber)

3. to adorn or decorate

4. to cut so as to remove

   to trim off a branch

5. to cut down to the desired size or shape

   to trim material to a pattern

6. dialect to decorate

   to trim a Christmas tree

7. nautical

   1. (also intr) to adjust the balance of (a vessel) or (of a vessel) to maintain an even balance, by distribution of ballast, cargo, etc

   2. (also intr) to adjust (a vessel's sails) to take advantage of the wind

   3. to stow (cargo)

8. to balance (an aircraft) before flight by adjusting the position of the load or in flight by the use of trim tabs, fuel transfer, etc

9. (also intr) to modify (one's opinions, etc) to suit opposing factions or for expediency

10. informal to thrash or beat

11. informal to rebuke

12. obsolete to furnish or equip

noun

1. a decoration or adornment

2. the upholstery and decorative facings, as on the door panels, of a car's interior

3. proper order or fitness; good shape

   in trim

4. a haircut that neatens but does not alter the existing hairstyle

5. nautical

   1. the general set and appearance of a vessel

   2. the difference between the draught of a vessel at the bow and at the stern

   3. the fitness of a vessel

   4. the position of a vessel's sails relative to the wind

   5. the relative buoyancy of a submarine

6. dress or equipment

7. window-dressing

8. the attitude of an aircraft in flight when the pilot allows the main control surfaces to take up their own positions

9. films a section of shot cut out during editing

10. material that is trimmed off

11. decorative mouldings, such as architraves, picture rails, etc

Trim ² British  

/ trɪm /

noun

1. the county town of Meath, Republic of Ireland; 12th-century castle, medieval cathedral; textiles and machinery. Pop: 5894 (2002)

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• trimness
  noun
• overtrim
  verb
• pretrim
  verb
• trimly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• trims
  plural

Adjectives

• trimmer
  comparative
• trimmest
  superlative

Participles

• trimming
  present
• trimmed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• trim
  simple
• trims
  simple
• have trimmed
  perfect
• has trimmed
  perfect
• am trimming
  progressive
• are trimming
  progressive
• is trimming
  progressive
• have been trimming
  perfect progressive
• has been trimming
  perfect progressive

Past

• trimmed
  simple
• had trimmed
  perfect
• was trimming
  progressive
• were trimming
  progressive
• had been trimming
  perfect progressive

Future

• will trim
  simple
• will have trimmed
  perfect
• will be trimming
  progressive
• will have been trimming
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of trim

First recorded before 900; probably continuing Old English trymman, trymian “to strengthen, prepare” (not recorded in ME), derivative of trum “strong, active”; akin to Irish dron “strong,” Greek drȳmós “coppice,” Latin dūrus “hard”; see tree

Explanation

When you cut something, literally or figuratively, you trim it. If you have steady hands, you can trim your own bangs. If you don't have steady hands, you can save up for a professional haircut by trimming the amount of money you spend on comics and snacks. A landscaper trims the grass and shrubs, and a cook trims fat off of meat before cooking it. But when you trim the Christmas tree, you decorate it, and when a sailor trims the sails, she adjusts them so they'll catch the wind just right. And as a noun, a trim is "an act of cutting," while trim is "decoration." All forms of this word are rooted in nautical language.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

trim Trim trims trimmer trimmest trimmed trimming

Former British sprinter Adam Gemili tells Newsbeat that "feeling good" about yourself can give you that necessary extra lift when competing, and says men often opt for a "good trim".

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

The timing matters because investors are weighing whether to trim stock exposure after the S&P 500 rebounded from its recent pullback and climbed back to a record closing high on Tuesday.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026

The drop in oil prices prompts markets to slightly trim expectations for U.S. interest-rate rises ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy decision on Wednesday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

Paneling from one of the building's original restaurants was recreated in the trim of the new pool.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

Its rows of windows are outlined in bright white trim.

From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day

The accused, who was arrested on Wednesday, was brought before a special sitting of Trim District Court in County Meath on Friday evening.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

Trim the whole movie by 80 minutes, and viewers wouldn’t miss any integral story elements or baddie-whooping fights.

From Salon ● Jun. 27, 2026

At the top of Trim Mountain we find the Prestige package.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 6, 2026

Trim positions if you have to, but hold on to the shares of this AI winner.

From Barron's ● Nov. 24, 2025

Trim continued to be an important place on account of its castle and its Church of St Mary’s, until the time of Cromwell.

From Beauties and Antiquities of Ireland by T. O. Russell

Bell Potter keeps a hold rating on the stock and trims its target price 5.9% to 4.80 Australian dollars.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

MS trims its target price on Life360’s U.S.-listed stock 1.6% to US$65.20, and on its ASX-listed stock by 1.6% to 31.50 Australian dollars.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

Bell Potter trims its target price 2.9% to 34.00 Australian dollars.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

MS keeps an equal-weight rating on ResMed’s U.S.-listed stock and trims the target price by 0.9% to US$227.00.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026

“Glamry or no glamry,” she said, approaching with a cloth, “nobody trims my glassware without paying.”

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

Men with enormous beards that have never known the touch of a trimmer.

From Salon ● Aug. 7, 2024

Flag football’s five-a-side line-ups mean trimmer rosters compared to the swamped sidelines of tackle football, making for a more compelling case given the IOC's intention to streamline athlete numbers.

From BBC ● May 6, 2024

He showed up to camp looking trimmer and feeling as strong as he has in several years.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 25, 2024

“I go through my ritual,” he said, hitting the trimmer button.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2023

The man in front of me—David—is in it, next to my mother, his face a little smoother, his middle a little trimmer.

From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth

This design gives the A8F a stunning presentation of just a giant display with the trimmest of bezels surrounding it.

From The Verge ● Nov. 2, 2018

The company has an annual voluntary 12-week challenge in the fall to encourage employees to be active and not pack on the holiday pounds, with prizes for those who stay trimmest.

From Forbes ● Feb. 25, 2011

He found the ideal right-hand man in Stanton, who has streamlined CBS into the trimmest organization in broadcasting.

From Time Magazine Archive

Young, rich Stephen Carlton Clark had married Susan Hun, descendant of brownest, trimmest Albany ancestors.

From Time Magazine Archive

Descending to the interior of the fort, we passed from the foot of the wall-steps to the platform through a double file of navy boys, in trimmest holiday attire.

From The Flag Replaced on Sumter A Personal Narrative by William A. Spicer

Bill Hays—taut, with a neatly trimmed gray horseshoe hairline—sat behind the counter and immediately clocked me as a journalist, not some casual shopper.

From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026

Russia's central bank recently trimmed its annual GDP forecast to flat to 1 percent, from an earlier forecast of 0.4-1.3 percent.

From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026

Overall subscriber growth in Medicare Advantage slowed in 2026 as insurers quit unprofitable markets and trimmed benefits.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026

Then in the eighth, he made it his first multi-homer game of the season, with a two-run shot that trimmed the Cubs’ lead to 7-6.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

Every other week I mowed the lawn and trimmed, which took all day.

From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings

That means leaving certain markets and trimming benefits, rather than chasing subscriber gains.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026

Tractor Supply is dialing up promotions and trimming prices on popular items after concluding consumer belt-tightening won’t abate anytime soon.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026

"Part of what we’re seeing today is probably traders trimming ahead of results rather than waiting to find out," she said.

From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026

Midfielder Andrey Santos joined Manchester United an hour before the media conference, and Alonso was asked whether a lack of European football meant the squad needed trimming.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

One afternoon I was out trimming the laurel in the front yard.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez

Related Words

• clip
• curtail
• cut
• cut back
• cut down
• mow
• pare
• prune
• shave
• shear
• shorten
• whittle down