groom
groom
/ɡruːm/
To clean, brush, trim, and maintain one's neat appearance; also, a person employed to take care of horses.
In modern contexts, grooming refers to the entire routine of personal hygiene and style, including hair care, shaving, and skin maintenance.
The story behind the word. Groom comes from the Middle English 'grom', which originally meant a boy or male servant, particularly one who tended horses. Over time, the verb 'to groom' evolved from caring for horses to caring for one's own appearance.
Word relationships
- spruce up: Spruce up is an informal phrasal verb meaning to make neat quickly, while groom implies a more systematic, thorough maintenance routine.
- preen: Preen often carries a connotation of vanity or self-satisfaction (like a bird cleaning its feathers), whereas groom is a neutral term for basic hygiene.
- neglect: Neglect means to completely ignore one's appearance and hygiene, the exact opposite of grooming.
Commonly confused with
- bridegroom: A bridegroom (often shortened to groom) is a man about to be married, whereas the verb groom refers to personal care.
Word family
- groomed (adjective): Neat, clean, and well-maintained in appearance.
- grooming (noun): The practice of keeping oneself clean and neat.
Collocations
- well-groomed
- groom yourself
- grooming routine
- groom a beard
Example sentences
- "He took twenty minutes every morning to groom his beard and style his hair." A daily personal care routine
- "A well-groomed professional always makes a strong first impression in an interview." Describing a neat appearance
Memory hook
A 'groom' at a wedding must 'groom' himself perfectly to look good next to the bride. The wedding groom must look clean.
When not to use
Do not use when referring to deep medical cleaning or surgical procedures.
Fun facts
- The transition of 'groom' from a noun meaning 'horse servant' to a verb meaning 'to tidy up' occurred in the early 19th century.
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.