Groom
/ɡruːm/
nounverbB1
Definition
As a noun, "groom" refers to a man who is going to marry or has just married. As a verb, "groom" means to clean, brush, or take care of a person or animal’s appearance. It can also mean to prepare someone for a special role or job.
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See It in Action
Noun: A man about to marry or just married
- •The groom waited nervously at the altar.
- •Everyone congratulated the bride and groom after the ceremony.
- •The groom wore a black suit and a white flower.
Verb: To clean, brush, or take care of appearance
- •She groomed her dog every morning to keep its fur soft.
- •The horse was groomed before the race.
- •He groomed himself carefully before the interview.
Verb: To prepare or train someone for a special role or job
- •The manager groomed the new employee for a leadership position.
- •Parents often groom their children to be polite and responsible.
- •The coach groomed the players for the championship game.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "groom" like "man" (A1 word) when it means a man about to marry, but with a special role in a wedding.
- ✓Picture a bride and groom standing together on their wedding day, dressed nicely and happy.
- ✓It's the feeling of getting ready for an important event, like cleaning your clothes or brushing your hair.
- ✓Sounds like "broom" → imagine someone using a broom to clean carefully, just like grooming means cleaning or preparing.
- ✓Think of a horse being brushed and cleaned by a groomer—someone who cares for animals.
- ✓NOT like "bride" (woman getting married) but "groom" is the man in the wedding.
- ✓NOT like "clean" only—grooming can also mean training or preparing someone for a role or job.
- ✓NOT like "prepare" in general—grooming is a careful, detailed preparation focused on appearance or skills.
Try Other Words
- •Bridegroom: a formal word for a man about to marry (Use in formal or old-fashioned wedding contexts)
- •Clean: to remove dirt (Use when only talking about washing or brushing)
- •Train: to teach skills (Use when focusing on teaching or preparing someone for a role)
- •Care for: to look after (Use when referring to general attention and maintenance)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "groom" (single root word)
- •Etymology: From Old English "grom" meaning a boy or male servant, later evolving to mean a man who takes care of horses and then a man about to marry
- •Historical development: Originally meant a young male servant or stable worker; over time, it came to mean a man who cares for horses and then the man in a wedding
- •Modern usage: Used as a noun for a man marrying and as a verb for cleaning or preparing someone or something carefully
Reflect & Connect
•How do you think the meaning of "groom" as a person and as an action are connected?
•Can grooming be important in jobs or sports as well as in weddings? How?
Fill in the blanks
1.The groom waited at the altar because he was about to ___.
2.Before the show, the horse was ___ carefully to look its best.
3.The coach ___ the young player to become the team captain.
4.Unlike a bride, the groom is the ___ in a wedding.
5.She ___ herself before the meeting to make a good impression.
6.When someone is ___ for a special role, they are being prepared with care and attention.
7.The dog needs to be ___ regularly to keep its fur clean and healthy.