Green

/ɡɹiːn/ adj, intj, name, noun, verb, slang

adj, intj, name, noun, verb, slang ·Top 500 ·Elementary level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: The color of grass and leaves; a primary additive color midway between yellow and blue which is evoked by light between roughly 495–570 nm.
  • Grammar: green is listed as adj, intj, name, noun, verb, slang.
  • Nearest alternatives: emerald, putting green, a novice at, a stranger to.
  • Useful contrasts: smoked, ungreen, chlorotic.
  • Usage evidence: The cows were moving very slowly through the long green grass.

How to use "green"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "green" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "green" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "green" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "green" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "green" is acting as adj, intj, name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "emerald" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "green", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The color of grass and leaves; a primary additive color midway between yellow and blue which is evoked by light between roughly 495–570 nm. countable, uncountable

    "In a period of increasing industrialization and the palette of grey, brown, and black that came to dominate the modern city, greens provided a refreshing contrast, seemingly bringing the outdoors in."

  2. 2
    A member of a Green Party or green party.
  3. 3
    street names for ketamine wordnet
  4. 4
    A member of a green party; an environmentalist. capitalized, countable, sometimes, uncountable

    "How have greens sought to map an ecologically and socially sustainable future for society?"

  5. 5
    green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass wordnet
Show 16 more definitions
  1. 6
    A putting green, the part of a golf course near the hole. countable, uncountable

    "I gave him my putter earlier this year in Oklahoma City. He was having trouble on the greens and I said, ‘Here, try this.’ He did, and he’s been going great guns ever since."

  2. 7
    any of various leafy plants or their leaves and stems eaten as vegetables wordnet
  3. 8
    The surface upon which bowls is played. countable, uncountable
  4. 9
    an area of closely cropped grass surrounding the hole on a golf course wordnet
  5. 10
    One of the color balls used in snooker, with a value of 3 points. countable, uncountable
  6. 11
    a piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area wordnet
  7. 12
    A public patch of land in the middle of a settlement. British, countable, uncountable
  8. 13
    an environmentalist who belongs to the Green Party wordnet
  9. 14
    A grassy plain; a piece of ground covered with verdant herbage. countable, uncountable

    "o'er the smooth enamelled green"

  10. 15
    Fresh leaves or branches of trees or other plants; wreaths. countable, in-plural, uncountable

    "In that ſoft Seaſon vvhen deſcending Shovvers / Call forth the Greens, and vvake the riſing Flovvers; […]"

  11. 16
    Any substance or pigment of a green color. countable, uncountable
  12. 17
    A green light used as a signal. countable, uncountable

    "To the casual cockpit observer, landing-gear operation appears to be one of the most elementary tasks we have to perform. Either the switch is up and the lights are out, or it's down and there are three greens."

  13. 18
    Marijuana. slang, uncountable

    "You're better off smoking the green instead cause it don't blim-burn and it's better for your head."

  14. 19
    Money. US, slang, uncountable
  15. 20
    One of the three color charges for quarks. countable, particle, uncountable
  16. 21
    Ellipsis of green room. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, informal, uncountable

    "Today, actors say off-handedly, 'See you on the green' or 'I'll be in the green room' without giving the expressions much thought. In Shakespeare's day, actors changed behind the stage in the 'tiring house', […]"

Verb
  1. 1
    To make or turn (something) green or greener. transitive

    "Great spring before greened all the year."

  2. 2
    turn or become green wordnet
  3. 3
    To become or grow green in color.

    "O rosetree planted in my grief, / And growing, on her tomb, / Her dust is greening in your leaf, / Her blood is in your bloom."

  4. 4
    To add greenspaces to (a town, etc.). transitive

    "The newer 39-story, 1.5-million-square-foot tower occupies much of the original Shearson Garden, a larger parklet that briefly greened the construction site to be, and is remembered fondly by nearby Tribecans."

  5. 5
    To become environmentally aware. intransitive
Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    To make (something) environmentally friendly. transitive

    ""The SNP like to talk the talk about net zero targets, but they can't walk the walk. We need a fares freeze for everyone if we want to get serious about greening the economy and a public railway run in the public interest.""

Adjective
  1. 1
    Of a green hue.

    "He is wearing a green shirt."

  2. 2
    Of, or pertaining, to a Green Party or green party. not-comparable
  3. 3
    Sickly, unwell. figuratively

    "Sally looks pretty green—is she going to be sick?"

  4. 4
    Unripe, said of certain fruits that change color when they ripen.
  5. 5
    Inexperienced. figuratively

    "John's kind of green, so take it easy on him this first week."

Show 18 more definitions
  1. 6
    Islamist. capitalized, sometimes

    "In its most extreme formulation, this vision has devolved into a caricature of Islam as the "Green Peril" (green is the colour of Islam) advancing across the world stage, an image that echoes both the "Red Menace" of Cold War discourse and anti-Asian polemics about the "Yellow Peril"."

  2. 7
    Full of life and vigour; fresh and vigorous; new; recent; young. figuratively

    "a green manhood"

  3. 8
    Naive or unaware of obvious facts. figuratively
  4. 9
    Overcome with envy. figuratively

    "He was green with envy."

  5. 10
    Environmentally friendly. figuratively

    "green energy"

  6. 11
    Of a green party, environmentalism-oriented. capitalized, sometimes
  7. 12
    Describing a pitch which, even if there is no visible grass, still contains a significant amount of moisture.
  8. 13
    Of bacon or similar smallgoods: unprocessed, raw, unsmoked; not smoked or spiced. dated
  9. 14
    Not fully roasted; half raw. dated

    "We say the meat is green when half roasted."

  10. 15
    Of film: freshly processed by the laboratory and not yet fully physically hardened. historical

    "Following initial drying of film in a motion picture laboratory (after treatment in a hardening-fixing bath) the gelatin structure of an emulsion contracts and is permanently changed. The hardening action still continues for a time as a further small amount of residual moisture is given up. While traces of excess moisture remain, the emulsion is "green," relatively soft, […]"

  11. 16
    Of freshly cut wood or lumber that has not been dried: containing moisture and therefore relatively more flexible or springy.

    "That timber is still too green to be used."

  12. 17
    High or too high in acidity.
  13. 18
    Having a sexual connotation; indecent; lewd; risqué; obscene; profane. Philippines, informal
  14. 19
    Having a color charge of green. particle
  15. 20
    Being or relating to the green currencies of the European Union.

    "the green pound"

  16. 21
    Subject to or involving a model of open access in which a published article is only available to read for free after an embargo period.

    "Coordinate term: gold"

  17. 22
    Of or pertaining to a part formed from compacted metal powder which has not yet undergone sintering to improve its strength.

    "The pressure required to obtain a given green density depends upon the metal powder material being pressed. Excessive pressures can present some complex problems such as punch and die fractures, slip cracks and cleavage fractures in the green part. Although high pressures are required for pressing high density shapes they should not be excessive."

  18. 23
    Having a status (as correct, ready, or safe) denoted or coded by the color green.

    "Conditions all green! Standby...OK! It is time!"

Adjective
  1. 1
    of the color between blue and yellow in the color spectrum; similar to the color of fresh grass wordnet
  2. 2
    not fully developed or mature; not ripe wordnet
  3. 3
    naive and easily deceived or tricked wordnet
  4. 4
    looking pale and unhealthy wordnet
  5. 5
    Good for the environment wordnet
Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    concerned with or supporting or in conformity with the political principles of the Green Party wordnet
Intj
  1. 1
    Used to indicate that the speaker wishes to commence (or to continue a previously stopped) sexual activity.
Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A common English surname from Middle English. countable, uncountable

    "When mathematicians face a question they cannot answer, they sometimes devise a less stringent question, in the hope that solving it will provide insights. This is the path that Tao took in 2004, in collaboration with Ben Green of Oxford."

  2. 2
    A number of places in the United States:; A minor city in Clay County, Kansas. countable, uncountable
  3. 3
    A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Elliott County, Kentucky. countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    A number of places in the United States:; A city in Summit County, Ohio, formerly a township. countable, uncountable
  5. 5
    A number of places in the United States:; A census-designated place in Douglas County, Oregon. countable, uncountable
Show 5 more definitions
  1. 6
    A number of places in the United States:; A number of townships in the United States, listed under Green Township. countable, uncountable
  2. 7
    A place in Wales:; A hamlet in Denbigh community, Denbighshire (OS grid ref SJ0568). countable, uncountable
  3. 8
    A place in Wales:; A northern suburb of Pembroke, Pembrokeshire (OS grid ref SM9801). countable, uncountable
  4. 9
    A place in Wales:; A settlement in Churchstoke community, Powys (OS grid ref SO2694). countable, uncountable
  5. 10
    Ellipsis of Green College, Oxford. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, historical, informal, uncountable

Synonyms

All synonyms
emeraldputting greena novice ata stranger toacerbacerbate

Antonyms

smokedungreenchloroticdeforested land

Example

"The cows were moving very slowly through the long green grass."

Common questions

What does "green" mean?

The color of grass and leaves; a primary additive color midway between yellow and blue which is evoked by light between roughly 495–570 nm.

What is a synonym for "green"?

Common synonyms include: emerald, putting green, a novice at, a stranger to, acerb, acerbate.

How do you use "green" in a sentence?

The cows were moving very slowly through the long green grass.

How do you pronounce "green"?

Pronounced /ɡɹiːn/.

Etymology

Etymology 1

Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *grōniz Proto-West Germanic *-ī Proto-West Germanic *grōnī Old English grēne Middle English grene English green From Middle English grene, from Old English grēne, from Proto-West Germanic *grōnī, from Proto-Germanic *grōniz, from Proto-Indo-European *gʰreh₁- (“to grow”). More at grow. Doublet of Gruen. See also North Frisian green, West Frisian grien, Dutch groen, Low German grön, green, greun, German grün, Danish and Norwegian Nynorsk grøn, Swedish grön, Norwegian Bokmål grønn, Icelandic grænn. The sense of obscene, pornographic, or sexual in the Philippines is a semantic loan from Spanish verde. In other varieties of English, blue is the color instead associated with obscenity or pornography.

Etymology 2

From Middle English grenen, from Old English grēnian (“to become green, flourish”), from Proto-West Germanic *grōnijan, from Proto-Germanic *grōnijōną, *grōnijaną (“to become green”), from the adjective (see above). Cognate with Saterland Frisian gräinje, German Low German grönen, German grünen, Swedish gröna, Icelandic gróna.

Etymology 3

From the colors used on traffic lights; green being the one that allows vehicles to move on.

Etymology 4

English surname, a topographic name for someone who either lived near a village green, or was just fond of the colour. This name is also translated from other surnames, such as German Grün and Gruen, Dutch Groen, Irish Ó hUainí (from uaine, see Honan), etc. The Irish surname was also erroneously translated from Ó Fathaidh, Ó Fathaigh, from faithche (“lawn”).

More for "green"

Synonyms

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