grandmother

noun

grand·​moth·​er ˈgran(d)-ˌmə-t͟hər How to pronounce grandmother (audio)
1
: the mother of one's father or mother
2
: a female ancestor
grandmotherly adjective

Examples of grandmother in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Murillo recalled a Cuban grandmother whose grandchildren were terrified to go to school after their father was detained in front of them at their own home by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025 After college, her grandmother gifted her and her siblings some money, and Walters embarked on a major backpacking trip through Europe with friends while her MS symptoms were still nascent and not impacting her mobility yet. Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025 The screen treatment brings us Glenn Close in fine Scandinavian grandmother form, a lot of sweeping island vistas, and a very scrappy young actor named Emily Matthews. Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 12 Sep. 2025 Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint, Hugh-Baby’s BBQ and Burger Shop, and Sweetmilk, are all celebrations of Southern cuisine, covering everything from traditional breakfast inspired by Martin’s grandmother to a classic mid-South burger spot. Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grandmother

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grandmother was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Grandmother.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grandmother. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

grandmother

noun
grand·​moth·​er ˈgran(d)-ˌmət͟h-ər How to pronounce grandmother (audio)
1
: the mother of one's father or mother
2
: a female ancestor

More from Merriam-Webster on grandmother

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