1
2
as in jail
British slang
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
the blokes at the pub traded stories of nights spent in the nick after having lifted too many pints
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in shape
British
a state of being or fitness
the princess is in excellent nick these days
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to steal
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep
that lorry was a piece of rubbish, I don't know why anyone would want to nick it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to arrest
to take or keep under one's control by authority of law
a petty thief who was always getting nicked for picking the pockets of tourists outside Buckingham Palace
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nick
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 Feb. 2026
His hard hat bears months of nicks and scrapes, testament to the massive transformation underway in the 25,000-square-foot former food court at the Shops at Rivercenter mall in downtown San Antonio.
—Paul Stephen, San Antonio Express-News, 21 Jan. 2026
Idaho Statesman, 5 Apr. 2026
The Phillies nicked Dollander for a run in the fifth, utilizing a leadoff single by Brandon Marsh, who scored on Turner’s double to right.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nick
Noun
When the Ghoul saves Lucy from being turned into a zombie by her dad, the surprise of his nick-of-time arrival is undercut by the scene being split in half.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 Feb. 2026
His hard hat bears months of nicks and scrapes, testament to the massive transformation underway in the 25,000-square-foot former food court at the Shops at Rivercenter mall in downtown San Antonio.
—Paul Stephen, San Antonio Express-News, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
Bodily nicked the right goalpost three minutes later, and Jonathan Ricketts fired a rocket just over the crossbar in the 70th minute.
—Idaho Statesman, 5 Apr. 2026
The Phillies nicked Dollander for a run in the fifth, utilizing a leadoff single by Brandon Marsh, who scored on Turner’s double to right.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nick
Noun
-
Ponds also plays with a chip on his shoulder and displays fearlessness both in coverage situations and against the run.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
These novelty curry chips are pretty spot on.—
Alex Beggs,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
He had been booked into the jail in late November on a probation violation warrant.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
She was booked into the county jail and released on $1,000 bond.—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
While these tools remain limited, they have been explored deeply over the past few decades — not just for the sake of ultrafinitism, but because sorting out the shape of things is important for developing a finite physics.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The Keys sink into tunes by RL Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, and Jessie Mae Hemphill, with second guitarist Kenny Brown and multi-instrumentalist Jimbo Mathus adding depth and shape.—
Jon Dolan,
Rolling Stone,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Along with Lee, second baseman Luis Arraez collected three hits and stole his team-leading fourth base of the season.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The senior right-hander gave up a two-out single in the fifth but that runner was thrown out trying to steal second.—
Lou Ponsi,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Last month, Spears was arrested in Westlake Village by the California Highway Patrol.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
The man accused of murdering him was arrested and charged less than a week later.—
Luke Parker,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Leah Remini's daughter with husband Angelo Pagan picked a glam green gown with a high slit for her senior prom — and posed alongside her proud (but emotional) parents.—
Lindy Segal,
PEOPLE,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The skirt, with its front and back slits and pockets, echo the design details found in Beckham's namesake ready-to-wear collection, which similarly blends feminine and utilitarian elements.—
Claire Peltier,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Four others indicted in the case were given sentences of as much as six years in prison, with one woman getting a 10-month sentence, suspended for three years.—
Debby Wu,
Bloomberg,
27 Apr. 2026
-
As part of Lololee’s deal, federal prosecutors agreed to recommend a prison term at the low end of the sentencing range, according to the court filing.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But through it all, Hall discovered football, and his condition wasn't going to keep him from the game that would define his life.—
Jackson Thompson OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Gold prices are driven by inflation expectations, central bank policy, global economic conditions and investor demand.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nick. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
